Pensioner thanks good samaritan who saved his life

9:00am Thursday 28th August 2008

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A GOOD Samaritan who saved a pensioner’s life by dragging him from his car and resuscitating him is using his story to urge people to get basic first aid training.

Quick thinking David Field, from Kingswood, managed to keep a motorist alive, after he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car, by doing chest compressions until an ambulance arrived.

David, a St John Ambulance first aid trainer, was driving to work through Cirencester when he saw some people at the side of the road by a crashed car.

"The two people nearby had called an ambulance but they were too afraid to pull him out of the car in case they hurt him," said David, a father-of-three.

"But he wasn’t breathing and could have died so I dragged him out of the car and gave him CPR until the ambulance arrived."

Little did David know that his actions helped save the life of Fred Perkins, from Cirencester, who made a full recovery in hospital and returned home last week.

"It goes without saying that I am incredibly grateful for what David did and that goes for my whole family. His actions helped save my life," said Mr Perkins, 78.

Mr Perkins’ wife Penny added: "We cannot say how grateful we are to David for what he did and his expertise.

"The hospital staff said it was his expert care which helped my husband to survive."

David, 56, of Wickwar Road, said: "I feel quite humbled to say I saved someone’s life, it is a really nice feeling."

But it was not the first time David had saved someone’s life. He is also a ‘first responder’ for Great Western Ambulance Service, which is a volunteer role in which members of the public are trained in using a defibrillator and provide life saving CPR to nearby patients waiting for an ambulance.

The first life he ever saved was his daughters when she was six weeks old and her airways became blocked.

"I did manage to save her life then but it made me start thinking I needed better first aid training," said David, who has attended many emergency calls since joining GWAS.

"Everyone should have basic first aid training, from a very young age, you really never know when you will need it.

"If I hadn’t have gone back to kiss my wife goodbye on the morning Fred had a heart attack I might have driven past and never seen the accident, but luckily I did and I was able to help him. I don’t think I am a hero I just think it is nice to be able to help someone."

David, who has also been nominated for a Royal Humane Society award for his help in saving Fred Perkins’ life, is keen to encourage people to join a St John first aid training course, which are held in Staverton, near Gloucester, each month.

For more information go to www.sja.org.uk/gloucestershire or contact 01452 858220 to book a course.