A STUDENT whose life was saved by the quick actions of a first responder is signing up to become one herself in the hope of becoming a lifesaver too.
Tabatha McElligot, 18, from Leigh, suffered a cardiac arrest while at Westcliff High School for Girls in 2009 and was brought back to life thanks to defibrillator shocks delivered by Leigh First Responder Steve Hockley.
“The day started off as just a normal day at college when I just collapsed out of the blue in front of most of the school,” said Tabatha.
“Our receptionist knew CPR so had been attempting to resuscitate me but I was in cardiac arrest and luckily Steve got here within minutes.”
After suffering the attack, Tabatha spent weeks in intensive care at Southend Hospital before being transferred to a specialist hospital in London where she was diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition called ‘Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery’ and received open heart surgery.
Tabatha is now fit and healthy and enjoying a gap year ahead of studying psychology at university.
“I don’t think I can ever thank Steve enough for saving my life but I’m hoping to give something back by joining and maybe one day I will be in Steve’s position and save someone’s life.”
Tabatha will now work alongside lifesaver Steve who co-ordinates the Leigh First Responder group.
“It’s lovely that Tabatha wants to get involved and put something back into the community,” said a thrilled Steve.
“I was working just around the corner on the day Tabatha suffered cardiac arrest. It was the biggest call I’d had in my seven years service and it’s been great to keep in touch ever since and for her to be joining the team.”
First responders are ordinary members of the public who receive two days of intensive training to learn skills from basic first aid to the use of a defibrillator that sends electronic pulses to stimulate the heart during cardiac arrest.
They drive under normal driving conditions without blue lights but are dispatched for life-threatening calls in their area along with an ambulance.
Essex Community Partnership Manager, Wendy Risdale Barr, said: “We have 76 schemes across the region and encourage anyone to join from the age of 18 – we even have a volunteer that still actively responds at 79! It’s important to keep the community supported by Community First Responders because early defibrillation saves lives.”
Anyone wishing to become a first responder in any region across the county can email responderadmin@eastamb.nhs.uk, visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk or call 01284 731802.