Off-duty Countess nurse helps save man who was 'minutes from death' after cardiac arrest on street

A Cheshire man who was just minutes from death after suffering a cardiac arrest in the street has thanked the off-duty Countess of Chester Hospital nurse and members of the public whose swift actions helped save his life.

Mike Brereton, 61, was walking along Tarporley High Street shortly before 9am on 12 September when he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack that sent him into a cardiac arrest.

Retired Airbus manager Mike, who typically walks around 5-6 miles every Saturday morning collapsed outside Instinct Gym on Tarporley High Street without warning, as passers-by and members of the community rushed to help.

Among them was Lauren Wall, who was returning home from a night shift at the Countess of Chester Hospital where she works as a Deputy Ward Manager on the Acute Medical Unit.

On arriving at the scene, she quickly realised Mike was not breathing and immediately took charge, performing CPR, managing his airway and coordinating lifesaving efforts until the arrival of paramedics.

Mike was then airlifted to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital where he underwent an emergency angioplasty and had a stent fitted.

Incredibly, despite the severity of his cardiac arrest and the odds stacked against him, Mike made a remarkable recovery and was discharged home within days, with Lauren's swift actions playing a crucial role in saving his life.

Speaking about his ordeal, Mike recalls: "From the second I grabbed the wall and fell face-first to the ground, I don't remember anything for three hours.

"I don't remember feeling unwell beforehand, just what felt like a bit of indigestion. I'm relatively fit, make sure I do my 10,000 steps a day and follow a good diet," he said.

Recalling the events of that morning, Lauren, 35, described how a routine journey home quickly turned into a lifesaving emergency.

"At first I just thought it was a little old lady who had fallen over, so I was going to help them up, make sure they were OK and then carry on home," she said. "But as I got closer, I realised that was not the case."

Drawing on her experience as a senior nurse, Lauren quickly recognised that Mike was not breathing and immediately took charge of the situation.

"I see people from all walks of life every day and deal with cardiac arrests frequently," she said. "But at work I'm usually surrounded by a team of professionals, whereas this was the first time I had to lead a cardiac arrest on my own without that support around me, so it was a little bit daunting."

"I think I started to feel emotional when I was checking Mike's wallet for signs of identification and I saw on his driving licence that his birth date was the same as my mum's. That's when the reality of the situation hit home,” she said.

"When I learned that he was well enough to be out of hospital in less than a week I was amazed because he had been so ill. For someone to survive such a major out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is just miraculous really.  

"I fully expected Mike not to make it or at least have suffered a brain injury so being able to see him fully recovered is just incredible.”

Following his remarkable recovery, Mike was determined to track down the woman who gave him a second chance of life.

Crediting Lauren's calmness, leadership and quick actions for saving his life, he wrote to the Countess of Chester Hospital to ensure she received the recognition she deserved, and the two were reunited in person less than eight weeks after she saved his life.

"The first hug seeing Lauren again was powerful," he said. “I wanted her to be recognised for what she did for me that day. Everyone there played a part, but Lauren's professionalism, calmness and ability to take control in such a critical situation undoubtedly saved my life."

Reflecting on how close he came to death, Mike added: "I was in the right place at the right time," he said. "If I was ever going to have a heart attack and cardiac arrest, it was in the right place, near where there was a defibrillator, with people around me who knew what to do and, importantly, remained so calm."

"When the paramedics arrived, they told my wife that all the hard work had already been done and that the community had saved my life. They then carried out further lifesaving CPR and treatment before transferring me to the helicopter.”

"I can't thank everyone enough for what they did for me that day."

Grateful for a second chance at life, Mike was determined to give something back, and after leaving hospital, he discovered the North West Air Ambulance Charity's 62-mile fundraising walk and immediately signed up, raising more than £7,000 so far.

Mike said: "I wouldn't be here today without the people who came together to help me. This is my chance to say thank you."

He also paid tribute to the Cardiac Rehab Team at the Countess of Chester Hospital  who have been supporting him during his recovery.

"The cardiac rehab team at the Countess are just outstanding. The support I have had has been second to none and I can't praise them enough.

Meanwhile, Lauren hopes the story will also encourage more people to learn lifesaving skills.

"I wholeheartedly believe basic CPR skills should be part of the school curriculum," she said. "It could save so many lives.

"In an emergency, it's often the actions taken in those first few minutes that can make all the difference and give someone the best chance of survival.

 "Seeing Mike doing so well and knowing he's been able to get back to his family is just wonderful."

You can donate to Mike’s fundraising journey here.

Notes to Editors:

• In the UK there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) a year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the victim. However, the survival rate is low – less than 1 in 10 people in the UK survive an OHCA. 
• Lauren has been awarded a Countess of Chester Hospital Patient Choice Award by Chief Executive Jane Tomkinson in recognition of her bravery and actions in helping to save Mike's life.