Woman reunited with life-saving ambulance crew

A woman who survived a brain haemorrhage, stroke and spinal cord infarction caused by a ruptured aneurysm has been reunited with the ambulance crew who helped save her life.

Sophie Dougherty, 34, from Broadstairs in Kent, fell seriously ill on 6 October 2019 while out with her partner and young daughter, Jade, and began having seizures.

Within minutes of 999 being called, a South East Coast Ambulance Service crew, that included operational team leader Rob Macer and crewmate Edward Ashby, arrived at the scene.

Ms Dougherty said: "My daughter was seven and although she was extremely scared, she remembers the kindness they showed in that scary time."

Mr Ashby said he had "always wondered what happened to Sophie".

"It was extremely rewarding for us to get the opportunity to reunite with her six years on," he added.

Ms Dougherty was taken to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate and given a blue-light transfer to King's College Hospital in London, where specialist neurosurgeons were on standby.

She underwent multiple emergency operations and spent more than six months in hospital, including time in intensive care.

Throughout her recovery, Ms Dougherty has been supported by her daughter, now 13, who has become her primary carer.

"Jade's been my rock," Ms Dougherty said.

"She's had to grow up so quickly, but she's never once complained. I honestly don't know how I'd have coped without her."

Mr Macer said it was "incredibly moving" to see the role Jade had played in her mother's recovery.

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