A woman who survived a cardiac arrest in 2023, recently reunited with one of the paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) who helped save her life.
Sonya Harris, a project manager, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on 20th October 2023, outside Malmesbury School in Wiltshire. Her husband, Jon Watton, and friends, Rachel Bristow and Tom Lawton, performed CPR until ambulance crews arrived and delivered advanced life-support.
A team of nine paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) responded to the emergency call, using a defibrillator to deliver shocks to Sonya's heart. After 38 minutes, they successfully achieved a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
Sonya was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where she spent four days in an induced coma. She was later transferred to the Bristol Heart Institute, where she spent another four days before being discharged.
Fifteen months later, Sonya met with Craig Lively, one of the Chippenham-based paramedics who helped save her life.
The reunion took place at the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance base. Craig Lively described the reunion as "truly special," saying, "It reminds me of the incredible impact our work can have."
Sonya expressed her gratitude to Craig and the entire team who attended to her, saying, "I am so incredibly grateful for the care I received that day."
Since her recovery, Sonya has joined a cardiac arrest survivors' charity and is actively working to ensure public access defibrillators are easily accessible in her community.
Her story highlights the importance of bystander CPR and the availability of defibrillators. With the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK remaining less than one in 10, Sonya's experience underscores the need for greater awareness and access to these lifesaving tools.