#welshambulanceservicetrust — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #welshambulanceservicetrust, aggregated by home.social.
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CARMARTHEN: ‘I woke up seven days later and was told what had happened’ — the job centre staff who saved a man’s life with a defibrillator they’d never used before
Stephen Booth walked into Carmarthen Job Centre Plus in March last year.
He never expected to leave in an ambulance.
As he stepped out of the lift, security officer Chris Manfield noticed something was wrong.
Seconds later, Stephen collapsed.
He had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest – one of the most serious medical emergencies a person can face. Without immediate intervention, he would not survive.
Manfield had recently completed basic life support training and didn’t hesitate. He called 999, began CPR and shouted to colleague Endaf Davies to fetch the defibrillator from the entrance.
“I instinctively knew he was in cardiac arrest,” Manfield said. “So I called 999, followed the call handler’s instructions and began CPR.”
For Davies, a Job Centre service manager, this was his first cardiac arrest emergency – and he had never received CPR or defibrillator training in his life.
He grabbed the defibrillator, opened the lid and simply followed the voice instructions.
“I’m still amazed today, just as I was then, at how easy it was to use,” Davies said.
Together, the two men performed CPR for more than five minutes and delivered two defibrillator shocks until Welsh Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Stephen Bowles arrived and took over.
Stephen was blue-lighted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where he spent the next two weeks. He woke up seven days after the cardiac arrest with no memory of what had happened.
More stories like this
She thought her husband was snoring. He was having a cardiac arrest in his sleep.
One of our most-read survival stories.Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours
Another remarkable bystander rescue – and reunion.“I don’t remember anything about that day,” Stephen said. “I woke up in Morriston Hospital seven days later and was told what had happened.”
He had one stent fitted and underwent numerous tests before being discharged.
Save a Life Cymru recently reunited Stephen with the people who helped save him – including Manfield, Davies and paramedic Bowles – where he presented them with Bystander Commendation Certificates.
“I was later told I’d received excellent CPR, which was vital to my recovery,” Stephen said. “I would encourage everyone to learn these lifesaving skills.”
Bowles said meeting cardiac arrest survivors was always special for ambulance crews, who rarely get the chance to see the outcome of their work. “I think he was glad too, as I could explain from a medical perspective what had happened to him that day,” he said.
Julie Starling, Clinical Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Programme Manager for Wales, said bystander intervention was the only way to increase survival rates. “We want to build a nation where people feel confident to call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator when someone collapses,” she said.
A cardiac arrest happens without warning. The person collapses, becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. If you see this happen: call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator if one is available – they are designed to be used by anyone, with no training required.
Anyone who has been affected by a cardiac arrest and needs support can visit resus.org.uk/public-resource/support-after-cardiac-arrest.
More survival stories from Swansea Bay News
Port Talbot cardiac arrest survivor reunited with amazing lifesavers
Another incredible reunion story from closer to home.Teen who aided two medical emergencies in one day commended by ambulance chief
A remarkable young bystander recognised for extraordinary calm under pressure.Pembrokeshire dad of three thanks emergency services that helped save his life
Another survivor’s story of gratitude and recovery.Man who survived being hit by a van thanks ambulance crew who saved his life
A different kind of emergency – the same life-changing gratitude.All our Welsh Ambulance Service coverage
#cardiacArrest #Carmarthen #CPR #defibrillators #SaveALifeCymru #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust
Our full archive of stories about the crews who respond across south-west Wales. -
Swansea ambulance manager honoured in King’s New Year Honours as Welsh Ambulance Service staff recognised
Locality Manager Cath John, who began her career in 1995, has been awarded the King’s Ambulance Service Medal (KAM) for distinguished service. Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones and Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell have both been appointed MBE for their voluntary and charitable work.
Welsh Ambulance Service Chief Executive Emma Wood said the trio represented the very best of the service.
Emma Wood said:
“We’re incredibly proud of colleagues who go that extra mile for patients and their communities. These awards recognise the hard work and dedication given by Nigel, Dean and Cath over the years.”
Swansea’s Cath John receives King’s Ambulance Service Medal
Cath, who is based in Swansea, started out in non‑emergency patient transport before qualifying as an Emergency Medical Technician in 1999 and later as a Paramedic in 2004. She spent 11 years on the frontline before moving into leadership roles, including Clinical Team Leader and Operations Manager during the Covid‑19 pandemic.
She became a Locality Manager in 2021.
Cath John said:
“I’ve been with the Welsh Ambulance Service for over 30 years and I love what I do. Working here has given me so many opportunities and allowed me to work alongside some really special and dedicated people.”
Cath, 54, only discovered she was receiving the KAM when she returned from annual leave and spotted the notification buried in her inbox.
Cath John said:
“At first I didn’t know whether it was real… it only sank in when I saw my name on the official list.”
MBE for volunteer who has helped disaster zones across the world
MBE recipient Nigel Jones pictured during his humanitarian work with REACT, supporting disaster‑hit communities.
(Image: Welsh Ambulance Service)Emergency Ambulance Practitioner Nigel Jones, from Monmouthshire, has spent decades volunteering alongside his full‑time work — from supporting veterans and mountain rescue teams to deploying with humanitarian charity REACT in disaster‑hit regions.
His voluntary work has taken him from UK Covid Nightingale hospitals to bush fires in Australia, earthquake zones in Turkey and two deployments to Ukraine.
He was volunteering in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa when he learned he had been awarded an MBE.
Nigel Jones said:
“It was a complete surprise… I never began volunteering to get recognition, but it’s a tremendous feeling to be considered in the King’s New Year Honours.”
Nigel has also completed ten marathons for charity, raising more than £10,000.
Third honour for long‑serving community volunteer
Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell, awarded an MBE for decades of voluntary and charitable service across South Wales.
(Image: Welsh Ambulance Service)Operational Team Leader Dean Caldwell has also been appointed MBE for decades of voluntary service across South Wales — including years with Bro Radio, the RNLI at Barry Dock, HM Coastguard Search & Rescue, and Welsh Amateur Boxing.
Dean Caldwell said:
“I am truly honoured and overwhelmed. Each role has allowed me to contribute to the wellbeing and safety of others, and I accept this MBE with immense pride.”
National praise for “the very best of Britain”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised all those recognised in this year’s list.
The Prime Minister said:
“This year’s Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain – people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives.”
More New Year Honours stories
Carmarthen nurse ‘bowled over’ with MBE honour
A Carmarthen nurse says she is overwhelmed after being recognised in the New Year Honours.The King and I: Mike’s MBE for volunteer service
A lifelong volunteer from South Wales reflects on receiving an MBE for community service.Gower College Swansea employee receives MBE
A criminology specialist at Gower College Swansea is honoured for her work studying gangs.Llanelli-born Specsavers co-founder awarded CBE
#EmergencyMedicalTechnician #EMT #HMKingCharlesIII #KAM #KierStarmer #KingSAmbulanceServiceMedal #MBE #NewYearsHonours #paramedic #PrimeMinister #WalesAmbulanceService #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust
Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins is recognised with a CBE for services to business.