A PENSIONER saved by a quick-thinking woman has come face-to-face with her ‘life-saver’ for the first time since the incident.
Estelle Field put her new found first aid skills to the test, just weeks after attending St John’s Ambulance community course, when June Watkins collapsed during a community show in Hallow.
The 75-year-old fell during Hallow Village Community Group’s community show on March 14 and Estelle reacted quickly to try and keep the woman’s heart beating.
Estelle, who lives in Hallow, said: “When rehearsing for the Hallow Village Community Group’s Hello Hallow Variety Show, I jokingly commented to a fellow performer, who had been on the course with me, whether we had used our first aid skills yet.
“On the first night of the show I was waiting in the wings to go on stage when I heard a loud bang. At first I thought it might be a piece of scenery falling over but realised it was a woman lying motionless.
“Behind the curtains I was watching everyone looking at June thinking I’ll have to go and help in a second as I realised she needed immediate attention.
“It was so scary but because of the training I knew what to do.”
A retired doctor and nurse were also on the scene to help Estelle, before an ambulance arrived to use a defibrillator and restart June’s heart.
And the pair met for the first time since the incident at June’s home in Battenhall last Tuesday (April 29).
Estelle undertook the Essential First Aid court in Hallow on February 4 to brush up on her medical skills in case she ever needed them to help her children.
Mum-of-six June was taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital where she remained in an induced coma before having an operation to have an internal defibrillator fitted, and says she has no recollection of the night.
“I remember nothing until waking up in the coronary care unit days later having been in intensive care,” she said. “I literally just keeled over, there was no inkling that was going to happen.
“Doctors did an angiogram to see if I need a stent but my arteries were fine, it was a case of an irregular heartbeat and my heart just stopped.
“I would like to say thanks to Estelle, the doctor and anyone else who helped save my life. My children say it is amazing that complete strangers helped save my life.
“It just shows how important first aid is.”
