A tale of three strangers.

When a festive family trip, turned in to an unexpected life-threatening event, it was the efforts of fast-acting by-standers, a firefighter, a former first responder and a public-access defibrillator that saved the life of a young, fit and healthy mum.

In late November 2022, an excited family with a young daughter venture out to Clitheroe to see the Christmas lights, an annual much-loved event that no-one would have expected to end in a crisis. We speak to survivor Nicola Chadwick, Lancashire firefighter Chris Archer and former CFR Gordon Fishlock about that winter evening and the importance of the Chain of Survival.

Nicola explains: “We’d had a lovely evening and were heading back to the car when I suddenly collapsed. I am a non-smoker, non-drinker, young and active so this was completely unexpected. My partner thought I’d fainted and put me in the recovery position.”

As Nicola’s partner tended to their daughter, by-standers swooped in to support Nicola. A lady noticed very quickly that Nicola’s breathing had stopped and began CPR. As more people gathered to help, locals took turns giving CPR while an emergency 999 call was made. The heroic efforts of locals began the first link in the survival chain. What followed, is a chance encounter that saw former CFR (Community First Responder) Gordon and firefighter, Chris pass by the scene, as Nicola lay unconscious.

Gordon says: “As I came to Castle Gate there was someone laid in the road with several people attending. As I had been a First Responder for the ambulance service, I stopped to see if I could help. CPR was being applied and the helpers were taking instructions from control. I noticed someone had collected the nearest defibrillator from the old phone kiosk and left it on the pavement. This was my chance to get involved. I quickly placed the defib pads and a shock was given followed by more CPR.”

Chris says: “I’d been dropping some stuff off at my sister’s shop, where Nicola had collapsed directly outside of. I arrived on scene and identified myself as a firefighter who could assist. An ex first responder, who I now know to be Gordon, was preparing to apply the defib pads. After about a minute, I was asked to take over the compressions.

Nicola began showing positive signs in relation to agonal breathing but still not breathing on her own.

Ambulance crews arrived moments later with both Gordon and Chris commenting that the paramedic was “exceptional, assertive and took control of the scene”. Several attempts to revive Nicola including shocks and continued compressions saw short bursts of returned breathing but once in the ambulance, all involved at the scene were unaware of what became of the young mum. Following further shocks, Nicola regained consciousness. She says, “I was in hospital for 11 days, under sedation for the first two. After many tests there is still no clear reason as to why I had a cardiac arrest but have been fitted with an ICD pacemaker to keep me safe. Amazingly I have made a full recovery.”

Nicola wanted to thank the people that helped save her life and took to Facebook in a bid to find them. The power of social media came through and Nicola was able to meet Gordon, Chris and other by-standers to thank them personally.

Nicola added: “I feel so lucky that all these people were there that night, I cannot stress enough the importance of learning CPR and having access to community defibrillators. There will never be enough words to thank all the people that helped me that day. My family and I will be grateful to them forever.”

Chris added:

“It warms my heart to know her little girl still has her mum today and that we, as strangers, had something to do with that. It’s something that will stay with me forever.”