Cardiac arrest survivor thanks those who saved his life
A FATHER-of-three who survived a cardiac arrest has been reunited with the crews and bystanders who helped save his life.
In October 2024, Anthony Crothers was enjoying a walk in the Gower when he suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing.
His friend Glyn Dewis, with the help of two other bystanders, Dean and Jamie, rushed to his aid, called 999, started chest compressions and attached a community defibrillator, which delivered one shock.
By coincidence, four off-duty doctors arrived at the scene and assisted with resuscitation whilst they waited for the paramedics to arrive.
The doctors performed five cycles of CPR and Anthony was given five shocks from the defibrillator which restarted his heart just before the paramedics arrived.
The paramedics carried out a rapid assessment, gave Anthony some oxygen, supported his airway and attached him to all their monitoring machines.
Due to his condition, the Wales Air Ambulance was called to give Anthony hospital-standard care in the car park, where Consultant Dr Iain Edgar and Critical Care Practitioners Derwyn Jones and Rhyan Curtin, stabilised him by inserting a breathing tube and attaching him to a ventilator.
Whilst Welsh Ambulance Service staff contacted Morriston Hospital to arrange for a direct transfer to the cardiac centre, the air ambulance crew gave Anthony adrenaline to keep his heart rate and blood pressure within normal limits.
Anthony was then airlifted to the Intensive Care Unit at Morriston Hospital, where he required cardiac stents to be inserted.
After a week, he was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales ITU and after nine days on a ventilator and nearly four weeks in hospital, he was discharged home, where he went on to make a full recovery.
Anthony said: “I have zero recollection of what happened to me.
"It may be the brain’s safety mechanism of wiping away the trauma.
"The first thing I remember is waking up in the intensive Care Unit in Cardiff and wondering what I was doing there.”
“From a personal point of view, I’ve tried to keep fit.
"I have a problem with my knee, which is from playing football.
"But the only other time I had been in hospital, apart from a knee operation, was when I had my tonsils out at 21.”
Anthony, along with his wife, recently visited the Wales Air Ambulance Charity headquarters in Dafen, Llanelli, where he met the Wales Air Ambulance medics, Welsh Ambulance Service staff, off-duty doctor and the bystanders.
Friend Glyn reflecting on the day, said: “It was the second day of a two-day road trip that we’d been on, the weather was great, we went down onto the beach at Three Cliffs Bay and we were just walking back.
“He turned his back to me as we got to the boot of the car and it was just surreal.
"I just heard him say the words, ‘oh God’.
"I said ‘what’s the matter, mate’, and he fell backwards and I caught him.”
Glyn who has received emergency first aid training on and off for over 30 years, continued: "It is incredible to have played a part in Anthony’s recovery.
"How often does someone go through their life and is able to say they’ve helped save another person, unless they’re in the medical profession?”
Bystander Dean Adams, said: “It felt surreal, I guess, in loads of ways.
"It just happened in front of me and I think most people would react that way because there’s no other way to react.
"It’s been amazing meeting Anthony.”
Mark Tonkin, Paramedic and Learning and Development Manager, said: “I truly believe that without the quick-thinking actions of Anthony’s friend, Glyn, and the bystanders, the outcome could have been very different, and Anthony might not be here today.”
“The chain of survival worked exactly as it should.
"From calling 999, retrieving a defibrillator and starting CPR, those at the scene played a vital role in saving his life.
“Senior Paramedic Nathan Amos and Cymru High Acuity Response Unit Paramedic Gavin Williams arrived just before myself and Emergency Medical Technician Holly Batcup, and we were able to provide further care until EMRTS arrived.
“This incident shows what’s possible when a community is prepared – immediate action and CPR awareness can save lives.”