Trowbridge man reunites with life-saving ambulance crew and promotes importance of CPR
To coincide with National Heart Month, a Trowbridge man was reunited with life-saving crew members from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) after suffering a cardiac arrest at home last year.
Martin O'Neill, aged 67, collapsed in the kitchen of his home on Tuesday 29 April 2025, shortly after returning from a run. His wife Jane found him unresponsive and immediately called 999 before starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which she had been trained to perform through her role as a lifeguard.
Ambulance crews arrived quickly and provided further life-saving care, successfully restoring Martin's heartbeat before transferring him to the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath for further emergency treatment.
Martin was placed in an induced coma for nine days and once stable, he was transferred to the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI), where he underwent major heart surgery, including a quadruple bypass and the fitting of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). He was discharged on 4 June 2025.
Now back home and continuing his recovery, Martin and Jane were reunited with the ambulance crew who helped save his life - Paramedics Laura Burbage, Jake Vickery and Evan Crowley, and Emergency Care Assistants Zoe Ryan and Joanna Francis-Lamb - at Trowbridge Ambulance Station on Wednesday 7 January.
Martin and Jane are keen to highlight the vital importance of CPR training. While CPR cannot guarantee survival, early intervention can make the difference between life and death. Medical professionals have confirmed that Martin's outcome would likely have been very different had CPR not been started immediately.
Martin said: "Being reunited with the ambulance crew who saved my life is something really special. I owe everything to their skill, speed and compassion, but I also know without CPR being started immediately, I simply wouldn't be here today. Those few minutes made all the difference. I'm living proof that learning CPR saves lives, and I'll be forever grateful to everyone who played a part in giving me a second chance."
Laura Burbage, Paramedic at SWASFT said: "It was such a privilege meeting Martin and Jane again and seeing Martin recovering so well. In those critical moments, we do our job hoping for the best, but reunions like this remind me why I became a paramedic. Knowing I played a small part in their journey makes me incredibly proud, and I wish both Martin and Jane nothing but happiness, strength, and all the best for the future."
Jane said: "This experience has shown us just how critical CPR knowledge is. I was incredibly fortunate to have had regular training. I would encourage everyone to learn CPR; it can save lives."
Since returning home, Martin has made an exceptional recovery. After completing cardiac rehabilitation at RUH, he is now attending Phase IV cardiac rehabilitation at his local sports centre. He has returned to running and gym training and is focused on rebuilding his fitness safely, with plans to take part in endurance races again in the future.
By sharing their story, Martin and Jane hope to encourage more people to learn CPR.
To find out how to learn CPR and locate your nearest defibrillator, visit https://www.swast.nhs.uk/saving-lives-together