Cardiac arrest survivor reunited with Wiltshire ambulance crew
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 the evening of 20 October 2023 outside Malmesbury School, in Wiltshire whilst collecting her son from a residential trip. Sonya's husband, Jon Watton, and friends, Rachel Bristow and Tom Lawton who witnessed the incident, performed CPR until ambulance crews arrived and delivered advanced life-support.
A team of nine colleagues responded to the Category 1 call, delivering shocks to Sonya's heart with a defibrillator several times before successfully achieving a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after 38 minutes. Sonya was then taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary where she spent four days in the intensive therapy unit in an induced coma and was later transferred to the Bristol Heart Institute where she spent a further four days before being discharged home to recover.
The team involved in Sonya's care included ambulance crews from Malmesbury and Chippenham, who responded to the incident at the end of their shift. Also attending the scene was a Fire Co-Responder, who assisted with efforts, as well as the conveying crew who transported Sonya to the hospital. The incident was further supported by the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team, with Specialist Critical Care Paramedics Ben Abbott and Adam Khan ensuring the highest level of emergency care. The combined efforts of these teams were crucial in providing Sonya with the best chance of survival. Fifteen months later, on 30 January at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance base, Sonya was reunited with one of the Chippenham-based paramedics, Craig Lively, who had been part of the life-saving team.
Craig Lively, Paramedic at SWASFT, said: When we arrived at the scene, Sonya was in a very critical condition, and we knew every second counted. It's always a privilege to be part of a team that makes a life-saving difference, but being able to reunite with a patient like Sonya is truly special. It reminds me of the incredible impact our work can have. Meeting Sonya, her husband, and her friend, Rachel, again and seeing how far she has come in her recovery is incredibly rewarding, and it's wonderful to know she's doing so well.
Sonya said: It was such a joy meeting Craig. I don't remember the incident or the five days prior to it, but I am so incredibly grateful for the care I received that day. I want to thank Craig, his team, and everyone who attended to me at the scene. I am still being monitored, and I now have a pacemaker/ICD device implanted. While the cause of my collapse remains unclear, I am doing well and have returned to work.
I've also joined a cardiac arrest survivors' charity, Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK, and am actively involved in ensuring public access defibrillators are easily accessible in my community. After the incident, it became clear that public access defibrillators can make a huge difference, but it's vital that people know how to access them in an emergency. In fact, it was only after someone had to break into the cabinet that the defibrillator was accessible that day.
Louise Cox, Specialist Paramedic at SWASFT, said: As the charity after care manager I was delighted to be able to host the visit at the airbase and support the reunion with the clinical team who provided care to Sonya. Hearing about her experience and her recovery was incredibly inspiring, and her ambition to ensure access to community CPR training and defibrillators, these really do provide the first link in the chain of survival.
With the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK remaining less than one in 10, Sonya's story underscores the importance of bystander CPR and the availability of defibrillators. Sonya is passionate about spreading awareness of these lifesaving tools and hopes to inspire others to learn CPR and know where to locate defibrillators.
For more information on CPR and recognising a cardiac arrest, visit: SWAST Saving Lives Together.
The reunion highlighted not only Sonya's remarkable recovery and ambition to educate communities around cardiac arrests but also the crucial role played by family members, friends, and the ambulance service in life-saving situations.