Paramedics are thanked for saving life of Hatfield Broad Oak father-of-two
Luke Chapman meets the ambulance crew that saved his life after suffering a cardiac arrest whilst attending a meeting at Yarmouth Stadium. Luke with Sophie Murgatroyd, Harriet Sutherland, Ryan Nelson and Hayley Caie. Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Thank you for saving my life.
Luke Chapman with his wife Annabelle at Yarmouth Stadium. Luke suffered a cardiac arrest whilst attending a race meeting.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
That was the emotional statement made by Hatfield Broad Oak man Luke Chapman after he met the team of paramedics that saved his life after he went into cardiac arrest on a family night out in Great Yarmouth.
Mr Chapman collapsed at Yarmouth Stadium in front of his wife, children and about a dozen other family members, who watched on as paramedics revived him using a defibrillator and CPR during a tense six minute period.
Last week Mr Chapman, 43, and his wife, Annabelle, 41, met the paramedics who saved his life when he collapsed after he won £21 on the first race of that fateful night.
When he went into cardiac arrest, his sister, Rebecca Chapman, performed CPR until the first paramedics arrived in the form of paramedic Harriet Sutherland and student paramedic Sophie Murgatroyd.
They shocked his heart three times as they successfully saved his life.
Three other paramedics, Ryan Nelson, Hayley Caie and Nikki Bell, also helped and took Mr Chapman to hospital, where he spent a week and then underwent surgery to have a miniature dual pacemaker and defibrillator fitted.
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As he approached the medics at the racetrack today, he admitted he could have given each of them a hug.
Mr Chapman, who has had to give up a job as a business consultant due to his condition, said: “How do you say thank you to someone who has saved your life?
“They are all true heroes. As soon as I saw them today I said to them “Is it alright if I give you a cuddle”.
Mr Chapman, a father of two from Hatfield Broad Oak in Hertfordshire, had been staying with his family in Winterton at the time of cardiac arrest, which happened on April 29.
He is already planning another family trip to the track next year and has invited the paramedics to join them to watch the races.
One of his sons has also raised £150 by organising fundraising events at his school and the money will be handed to Waveney ambulance depot, where the paramedics are based.
Also attending yesterday’s event was Adam White, of Discreet Security Limited, who helped the emergency services reach Mr Chapman and first aider Aimee Pendergast who relayed information via 999 about Mr Chapman’s condition.
