17 November 2009
An 83-year-old war veteran who had a heart attack at a remembrance service in Epsom town centre has thanked the passers-by who saved his life, including a nurse from nearby Epsom Hospital.
The memorial service outside Epsom Town Hall had only just begun last Wednesday (11 November) when Joseph Tarrant, who has served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, collapsed.
Maureen Paterson, an off-duty emergency nurse practitioner from Epsom Hospital's accident & emergency (A&E) was also at the memorial service. Maureen said: "When I saw Joseph collapse, another lady and I immediately went to help him.
"I could feel he didn't have a heartbeat so I started cardiac massage, which is where you place the palm of your hand over the person's heart and try to get it beating rhythmically again by pumping their chest."
The other lady was Marion Kuit, a receptionist from nearby Glyn Technology School in Ewell. Maureen added: "Marion started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and a police officer ran to fetch a defibrillator.
"In that kind of situation you focus so intently on what you're trained to do, but I was aware the service was continuing - we were in the middle of the two minutes' silence and I tried to be as quiet as I could!"
Joseph, who was rushed to Epsom Hospital's A&E and is recovering on the specialist coronary care unit, said: "I just want to thank both ladies from the bottom of, well, from the bottom of my heart! I'm only here today because of them."
Maureen added: "We're all very grateful that Joseph got the help he needed, and that he's okay. Whether I'm on or off duty, I'm still a trained nurse: what really saved Joseph's life was the fact that there was a defibrillator nearby and that Marion rushed over to help, too.
"Marion was wonderful and she'd simply had first aid training. I'd encourage everyone who's thinking of taking a first aid course 'one day' to find the time to do it - you never know when it could make all the difference."
Pippa Hart is the Trust's Director of Nursing. She said: "We are extremely proud of what Maureen did for Joseph during the remembrance service. Maureen has said that it was 'just part of her job', but that doesn't take away from the fact that she saved his life.
"She acted rapidly and professionally and I am very proud that she is a member of our nursing team."
