'I died in the gym but felt well the next day'

A retired police officer has reunited with the off-duty paramedics who saved his life after he collapsed in the gym.

Richard Iles was using a treadmill at an Everlast gym in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, when he suffered a cardiac arrest in May.

Fortunately for the 57-year-old, three off-duty paramedics witnessed the incident and carried out CPR and used a public defibrillator until ambulance crews arrived.

“It was a surreal experience to know I had died in the gym and then felt well the next day in hospital," said Mr Iles.

Mr Iles, from Carlton, said he remembered nothing of the emergency.

One moment he was exercising on the treadmill, the next he was slowly gaining consciousness on the floor while surrounded by clinicians from the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance Service (LNAA).

He said: “I’ve been very lucky – thanks to the quick-thinking actions of those on scene, and the crews that responded to the 999 call, they got my heart beating again at the gym.

“I was then taken to Nottingham City Hospital, where I remained for nine days while I recovered.

“Without the early intervention of everyone involved, I don’t think I’d be here today to tell you my story – I’m extremely grateful to all of them who gave me a fighting chance at survival.”

Off-duty paramedics Jordan Griffiths, Naomi Richmond and Lee McLaren were able to work on Mr Iles as the emergency unfolded.

Mr Griffiths said he and Mr McLaren rushed over as soon as they saw a man collapse.

“I started cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Richard and asked for someone to go and get a defibrillator, while also instructing the gym to clear people away while I continued with CPR," Mr Griffiths added.

“While a member of staff called 999, Lee and I were doing CPR on Richard in two-minute windows."

Without any equipment, Mr Griffiths only had basic information from the defibrillator about the condition of Mr Iles' heart.

“It advised me when to deliver a shock to his heart, when it was identified as being in a shockable rhythm," he added.

“What I did with the CPR and use of the public access defib was simple but effective.

"This can be done by any member of the public with the knowledge and confidence to do so."

Ms Richmond, a trainee advanced clinical practitioner, said: "Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests do not survive, so Richard has been extremely lucky."

Mr Iles has now had a device fitted that monitors and regulates his heart rhythm.

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