'Back in land of living thanks to a defibrillator'

Survivors of cardiac arrest in Guernsey have spoken of how defibrillators helped save their lives.

According to the Cardiac Action Group, at least 20 lives have been saved since 2018 by trained community bystanders with access to defibrillators across the island.

Committee member Rick Denton collapsed after a cardiac arrest at the cafe at Les Cotils. By chance, he said he was sitting near the group's team which trains people to use defibrillators and resuscitation.

"They had the defibrillator in their car... and very swiftly resuscitated me - I was back in the land of the living," he said.

Mr Denton said there were more than 150 defibrillators in Guernsey which "gives us a great safety net of equipment that can be used to save lives".

"We've been working very hard to train people in the community so they can act and know what to do," he said.

The group said they were working with St John Ambulance to train people.

Tim Le Cras, who had a cardiac arrest 13 years ago when he was on his bike near Rovers football ground, said passers-by gave CPR which "really kept me alive".

"It was really important that their CPR kept me going until the ambulance arrived with a defib and managed after 20 minutes to restart my heart," he said.

"I think its having the confidence and the willingness to step in and take action when you see people in harm.

"Every minute makes a real difference to survival rates when it comes to cardiac arrest."

Nick Brown, another survivor, was cycling with friends six years ago "and suddenly felt dizzy".

"The next thing I realised I was waking up in hospital," he said.

"Thanks to the fast actions of my cycling buddies and the availability of a defibrillator they were able to carry out a restart on my heart."

He praised the volunteers who look after the island's defibrillators.

"You just never know which one will be needed at which site," he said.

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