Bristol man reunited with life-saving ambulance crew after sudden cardiac arrest
A Bristol man was reunited with ambulance crews from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) who helped saved his life.
Sean Manning, a 60-year-old plumber from Almondsbury, collapsed outside a property in Brentry on Friday 14 March 2025, just as he was finishing his working day.
His colleague, Luke, quickly recognised that something was seriously wrong and called 999. By chance, the property outside which Sean collapsed was home to a trained first aider, who rushed to help and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with support from the 999 call handler. A public access defibrillator was also retrieved from a nearby construction site and used before ambulance crews arrived on scene.
The ambulance crew quickly took over Sean's care, stabilising him at the scene before taking him to the Bristol Heart Institute. He spent 20 days in hospital, including time in intensive care, where he was later diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sean was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) before being discharged home.
Almost exactly 12-months after the incident, on Tuesday 10 March 2026, Sean was reunited with Paramedic Samuel Priday and Emergency Ambulance Associate Lisa Cant at Soundwell Ambulance Station near Bristol.
Sean said: "Meeting Samuel and Lisa again was something I'll never forget. On the day of my cardiac arrest, I had no idea what was happening - but they did. They stepped in without hesitation and gave me a second chance at life.
"When I think about everything that had to go right - my colleague acting quickly, a stranger starting CPR, a defibrillator being nearby, and the ambulance crew arriving so fast - it's overwhelming. I'm only here because all those pieces came together.
"I don't take any of this for granted. If sharing my story encourages even one person to learn CPR or helps a community realise the importance of having a defibrillator close by, then it's worth it. It really can be the difference between life and death."
Lisa Cant, Emergency Ambulance Associate at SWASFT said; "Reuniting with Sean was incredibly special. We don't often get to see what happens after we leave patients at hospital, so to see him back on his feet and living life again is amazing. It's moments like this that remind us why we do what we do.
"It also highlights just how important early CPR and access to defibrillators are. Sean's survival is a powerful example of how communities can make a life-saving difference."
Now back at work, Sean is continuing his recovery and focusing on getting back to normal life. As part of this, he recently completed the British Heart Foundation's Walk 100 Miles in February challenge, exceeding his target and raising £455.
Sean hopes that by sharing his story, more people will learn CPR and support access to defibrillators in their communities.
To find out more information on how to learn CPR, visit Saving Lives Together | SWAST Website