A FATHER whose life was saved by unknown heroes in Solihull has thanked a local charity for installing a defibrillator.
Ken Salway, a chartered surveyor from Dorridge, collapsed in Mell Square in December.
His cardiac arrest would have been fatal were it not for the fast actions of bystanders, one of whom ran to grab a defibrillator installed by Solihull Lions.
Following instructions from emergency operators, the gallant first-aiders resuscitated Mr Salway.
Now recovered, Mr Salway was able to thank Solihull Lions president Doug Cross and Solihull Lions member Paul Jolly outside Boots’ chemist, where the life saving device was placed.
Mr Salway, a father of two aged 69, told the Solihull Observer: “I was in Solihull with my daughter, when we had gone to Touchwood to fix her phone, and all of a sudden my legs felt like jelly and I collapsed.
“The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are only three per cent, but thankfully my chances were much better, as members of the public came to help.
“I heard later they were two off-duty nurses, but all I know is one was a middle-aged lady.
“I’m very pleased with Solihull Lions as they funded the defibrillator, I think what they do is fantastic and it has saved my life.
“CPR is crucial when someone has a cardiac arrest, if you don’t get oxygen to your organs then it leads to organ failure if not death.
“I really can’t thank people enough for saving my life. The NHS staff at Heartlands were phenomenal, it was the day before my birthday
Mr Jolly said: “It took us two years to get the defibrillator in Mell Square, raising up to £20,000 for the defibrillator and then with the added aggravation of finding someone willing to have it.
“But there was a lady in Boots who helped me a lot, and now its proved to be of use saving Ken’s life.
“Two members of the public rang 999 and were directed to the Lions defibrillator outside Boots and shocked him three times bringing him back to life.
“Andy Jeynes of the West Midlands Ambulance Service and Terry Flower of Fast Aid First Response arrived to take over – Fast Aid cars have also been able to save many lives across the borough with the ten defibbrilators received from Solihull Lions.”
