An amateur cricketer has thanked the emergency services and good Samaritans who saved his life after he suffered three cardiac arrests and a heart attack.

Dave Turner, 58, fell gravely ill on July 17 but has now made a remarkable recovery – and was able to play cricket just over a month after his ordeal.

The Westcliff resident has thanked all the bystanders and emergency services who came to his aid when he was driving as he began to feel unwell.

Profound thanks - Dave Turner [top row - fourth from left] on his visit to Chelmsford Ambulance Station with his wife Ali and son Toby to thank the lifesaving bystanders and emergency responders who helped save his lifeProfound thanks - Dave Turner [top row - fourth from left] on his visit to Chelmsford Ambulance Station with his wife Ali and son Toby to thank the lifesaving bystanders and emergency responders who helped save his life (Image: East of England Ambulance Service)

Dave, who recently visited Chelmsford Ambulance station with his wife Ali and son Toby, is sharing his story to highlight the importance bystanders knowing how to perform CPR as part of the Restart a Heart Day campaign.

Paul Knight, 26, and Anna-Marie Brentnall, 27, were driving past and stopped to help Dave, who was on all fours and struggling to breathe.

 

Reece Comer, 34, an emergency care attendant, stopped to help too, and the three put Dave in the passenger seat of the car.

Shortly after, Dave suffered his first cardiac arrest and the three performed CPR.

Lifesavers - Dave Turner with Paul Knight and Anna-Marie Brentnall who helped save his life when he went into cardiac arrestLifesavers - Dave Turner with Paul Knight and Anna-Marie Brentnall who helped save his life when he went into cardiac arrest (Image: East of England Ambulance Service)

They were later joined by paramedics Savannah Radford, emergency medical technician Anna Fitzgeorge and emergency care assistant Millie Hemley-Tucker, who took over the CPR and administered shocks with a defibrillator.

An ambulance with emergency medical technicians Aimee Boatwright and Debra Willis and emergency care assistant Megan Downs and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance then arrived to provide advanced critical care. After they performed a sixth shock on Dave with the defibrillator, the team achieved a sustained heart rhythm.

Once stabilised, Dave was transported by road ambulance to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre at Basildon Hospital, where he was fitted with a stent to open his blocked artery.

Mr Turner said: “My family and I are extremely grateful to everyone involved in saving my life.

“It’s impossible to put into words how humbled I am that so many people helped me that day – from Paul, Anna-Marie and Reece to the ambulance service, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and Basildon Hospital. I owe my life to all of them.”