Who says you can't start a new career at 60?

On an early winter’s day in November 2019, Chris Warham, then aged 60, decided he wanted to become a student paramedic at Edge Hill University.

We asked why the charity chief executive decided to swap organising the delivery of disaster relief all over the world in favour of embarking on a new career, when it’s not what many people at his time of life consider doing?

It was a moment on holiday in 2017 that changed Chris’ outlook when his teenage son suffered a cardiac arrest in a lake right in front of him. “Fortunately, with basic CPR training and a nearby defibrillator, we managed to restart his heart, and a helicopter took him to hospital. He’s since made a full recovery,” says Chris.

“When you see your son die in front of you, it changes you forever. I began researching cardiac arrest and recovery, and that’s when I came across how to become a CFR and applied.

“I had been volunteering as a community first responder (CFR) in Bollington for about a year,” Chris says. “It was a role I enjoyed; having the human contact, speaking to patients, establishing their medical histories and calming them down before the ambulance crew arrives. But one evening, I got called to a difficult incident and I was on scene for 15 minutes before paramedics arrived. Afterwards, I knew I was capable of more. I felt I could make more of a difference and the experience of working alongside paramedics was something I wanted to do again. I immediately applied for the paramedic course and within a few days, I was accepted.

“Now I’m on the paramedic course; obviously, I’m much older than many of the students, but I love working with them. They’re so full of enthusiasm and vitality. However, I feel with my life experience I have a lot to offer; beyond just clinical knowledge, I get people!

“My family is very supportive, and I’m in a fortunate position where I can make a career change. When I graduate, I’ll be 63. However, I can’t imagine retiring anytime soon. Hopefully, I will get a job working for the ambulance service if they will have me and contribute even more to helping people.”