Retired Dorset teacher is reunited with ambulance crew that helped save his life
A retired teacher from Dorset has been reunited with the ambulance crew from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) who helped save his life following a cardiac arrest last year.
Jason Pizzey, 60, from Wimborne Minster became unresponsive at his home in the early hours of Saturday 31 August 2024. His wife, Sarah, was woken by snoring noises and quickly realised Jason was unconscious. She immediately dialled 999 and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) under the guidance of the ambulance service call handler.
Emergency crews from SWASFT promptly arrived at the scene and provided further life-saving medical care. Jason received two defibrillator shocks and once he was in a stable condition, was conveyed to Bournemouth Royal Hospital by land ambulance.
Jason spent 36 hours in the intensive care unit and was put into an induced coma. Once awake, Jason stayed a further week in hospital, where he had a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted before returning home.
On Thursday 17 July, Jason had the opportunity to visit Poole Ambulance Station and meet some of the crew including Zac Anderson, Operations Officer, Martin Summers, Emergency Care Assistant, Dion Tantrum, Emergency Care Assistant, Deborah White, Emergency Care Assistant and Bethany Anderson, Paramedic who attended to him on the night of his cardiac arrest.
Jason said: I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet the professionals who helped save my life. The team worked so perfectly together, and they recognised the first response of my wife to start CPR. They showed her care and compassion.
To say thank you in person was something really special. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here today. Since the event I have been slowly rehabilitating and by all accounts I have made a remarkable recovery my heart function is on an upward curve, and I no longer have heart failure. I am just so thankful for all they have done for me.
Martin Summers, Emergency Care Assistant at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: It was incredibly uplifting to see Jason again and to see him doing so well and living his life to the full since his incident. It's a really special moment being reunited with patients and I am just so pleased we were able to help Jason when he needed it most. We wish him all the best for the future.
More than 75% of cardiac arrests occur in the home, and without early intervention, the chances of survival decrease rapidly - with every passing minute without CPR reducing the likelihood of survival by 10%. This means individuals are more likely to perform CPR on a family member or friend than on a stranger. Learning CPR takes just a few minutes and could one day help save someone close to you.
Since Jason's recovery he has returned to his love cycling and creating artwork in his home studio and is also planning a trip to Japan later this year.
To find out how to learn CPR and locate your nearest defibrillator, visit the SWASFT website.