A man who suffered a massive heart attack says he owes his life to a family friend and charity first responder who discovered en route to the medical emergency that he knew the casualty.
Jim O’Kelly, 68, from Killavullen, in north Cork, says he has no doubt he would have died were it not for the quick response and skill of Edward Walsh, from Mallow, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and volunteer first responder with the emergency medical response charity, CRITICAL, on Easter Sunday, April 20 last.
And he has urged the State to provide funding so the charity can expand its life-saving services.
“They perform miracles like this every day and they need to be funded,” he said.
“The simple fact is that I owe my life to Ed and CRITICAL.
“From the time the 999 call was made, to the time I was treated in Cork University Hospital (CUH), it was less than 90 minutes.
“When an echo was carried out on my heart it showed no damage to my heart, all down to the speed of treatment.
“The National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the staff of CUH could not have saved me without the intervention of CRITICAL.”
Mr O’Kelly, a wheelchair user, began experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath while at home on Easter Sunday evening, prompting his wife, Hilary, to dial 999, just after 9pm.
Mr Walsh was at home in Mallow, planning an early night in bed, when he got a text from the NAS with basic details about a medical emergency in Killavullen.
It was only when he typed the Eircode into the tablet in his emergency rapid response vehicle that he realised he knew the address, and the patient.
He arrived at the O’Kelly home within 20 minutes, and an ECG monitor confirmed his suspicion that Mr O’Kelly was having a heart attack.
He administered aspirin and readied a defibrillator while they waited for the ambulance.
“I tried to relax his breathing, calm the situation, but prepare for the worst. I told Jim that the only voice I wanted him to listen to is mine, and that we’re going to get through this together,” Ed said.
Mr O’Kelly said Mr Walsh took control of the situation and calmed him, his wife, and their daughter, Lisa.
The ambulance arrived 20 minutes later, and the crew immediately rushed Mr O’Kelly to CUH.
He was on a table in its Cath lab within 90 minutes of the first 999 call.
A stent was inserted, and despite a 100% blockage, Mr O’Kelly’s heart escaped damage which medics said was due to the swift medical intervention earlier.
Mr Walsh said: “Jim’s daughter sent me a photo of him the next day in the hospital bed with his two thumbs up, and I thought ‘job done’.
“I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. This is why I do what I do. It’s like I was meant to be there that night.
As Mr O’Kelly continues his recovery, he has become an advocate for the charity, travelling to Leinster House recently to tell TDs his story, and to call for state funding for the charity.
“I want to highlight the work they do. They are all fantastic people,” he said.
CRITICAL has 162 responders in 21 counties who have responded to 720 incidents since the start of the year.
Its network includes doctors in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Dublin, and Wicklow, as well as community first responder groups, off-duty paramedics, EMTs, and advanced paramedics.
It costs €150,000 to put one of its emergency response vehicles on the road, and between €12,500 to €15,000 to set up a community first responder group.
You can help it expand its lifesaving services here: https://criticalcharity.ie/
