Everyday Heroes Rescue Round-up

It takes a special person to see someone, sometimes a complete stranger, in need of help and to step in and make a valuable difference to that person’s life. Hearing about our everyday heroes is something that can never fail to make you feel proud of those associated with RLSS UK and the heroic lengths they will go to when assisting someone in trouble.

Shaun McGuinness, Ryan Binks, Leon Quinn, Paul Kennedy, Adam Fryer and Matthew Douthwaite

October 2022, Spennymoor

Billy was playing walking football at Spennymoor Leisure Centre when he suddenly collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Shaun McGuinness, Paul Kennedy, Ryan Binks, Leon Quinn, Matthew Douthwaite, and Adam Fryer were the staff on duty at the time and they all responded quickly to arrive on the scene to assist Billy.

The staff members immediately got the AED to Billy, made the primary survey and began CPR whilst the AED was set up. Staff delivered five shocks to Billy before he started to show signs of life.

Thanks to the staff members’ actions, Billy was breathing by the time the emergency services arrived, and he was then transferred to the hospital for further treatment.

January 2023, Newfs in Action is a Newfoundland dog club formed to enable the breed to take part in activities that they were originally bred for.

Recently, one of the dogs, Bandit, had his skills called upon when his owner, and Newfs in Action Chairman, Philip Payne was out walking the dogs. Philip and partner Cheryl were walking Bandit and his sister Miss Dior on a cold winters day when Philip slipped on the icy mud and started heading down the bank towards a nearby lake which was partly frozen.

Bandit jumped into action and managed to stop Philip from sliding into the lake.

As a young water dog, Bandit could have got very excited about the situation and the prospect of going in the water, however, he showed his rescue training has worked and prevented his owner from entering the freezing lake and getting into potential danger.

May 2022, Aberdeen

Twelve-year-old Shreya Veerappan was in the swimming pool at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen when she spotted her classmate in trouble.

Shreya, who is part of competitive swimming club, Dolphins in Aberdeen, saw that her friend was unconscious in the deep end of the pool. She managed to quickly get to her, pulling her to the surface and getting her on a float. Shreya’s friend struggled for breath and the emergency services were called to the pool and the young girl was then taken to hospital.

Thanks to the quick actions of Shreya, the young girl has recovered well and was thanked by her friend and her family.

Ellen Claydon

September 2022, Essex

In September 2022, Ellen had her lifeguard skills called upon whilst at home with her partner. Ellen’s partner suffered a cardiac arrest whilst in bed, and Ellen quickly began performing CPR and continued to do so for 12 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Ellen’s partner was then shocked four times with an AED before being taken to hospital.

Ellen had undertaken her National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) ten years previously so knew exactly what to do to assist her partner.

Thanks to Ellen’s quick actions, her partner has now been discharged from hospital and fitted with a Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (S-ICD).

January 2023, High Peak

New Mills Leisure Centre started their new year with lifesaving actions as NPLQ holders Andrew Lomas, Beth Hindle, and Jack Cooke assisted a member of the leisure centre, Mike, as he required treatment. Mike was playing a 5-a-side game of football when he started to feel unwell and went outside to get some fresh air.

Jack checked on Mike and noticed he was slumped down and unresponsive in his van in the car park and quickly called 999.

Andrew immediately got the defib, assessed Mike and noticed straight away that he wasn’t breathing normally so the team began to move Mike from his van.

Andrew then started to give CPR to Mike and asked Beth Hindle, a newly qualified Lifeguard, to turn the defib on and apply the pads.

The defib analysed and a shock was advised. The shock was delivered by Beth and Andrew continued CPR for another two minutes. The Defibrillator advised a second shock and this was effective in restarting Mike’s heart, and no further CPR was required.

Paramedics arrived and Mike was sent to Hospital where he received further treatment.

Thanks to the training and actions of all three members of staff, Mike has made a full recovery and returned to the centre to thank staff.

December 2022, Lanarkshire

Emily Deas (15) and her friend Lauren Campbell (16) were near a Canal in Coatbridge Lanarkshire when they heard cries for help.

A man had been walking his dog along the canal when his pet ran onto the frozen canal and then fell through the ice into the freezing water. The dog’s owner then attempted to rescue his dog by going onto the ice himself which resulted in him unfortunately becoming a casualty as he too fell through the ice and entered the water.

After hearing the shouts for help, Emily and Lauren arrived at the bank of the canal, saw the man and his dog in the water, and immediately called the emergency services.

The Fire and Rescue Service and Paramedics arrived on scene and the two young girls were able to direct them to the man in trouble so they could perform a rescue to get the man and his dog out of the water.