Cardiac Arrest Survivor meets his Carmarthen Job Centre rescuers
23.04.26
In March 2025, Stephen Booth suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while visiting Carmarthen Job Centre Plus.
A cardiac arrest happens without warning. The person collapses, becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally. It is a life-threatening‑ emergency that requires immediate action: checking for danger, calling 999, starting CPR and using a defibrillator if one is available.
Fortunately for Stephen, who lives alone, he was in the right place at the right time. Security Officer Chris Manfield and Job Centre Service Manager Endaf Davies were close by and acted without hesitation.
Chris Manfield said: “I saw Stephen step out of the lift and realised he didn’t look well at all.
“Suddenly he collapsed. Luckily, I had recently completed my basic life support training, so I felt confident enough to act.
“I instinctively knew he was in cardiac arrest, so I called 999, followed the call handler’s instructions and began CPR and asked Endaf to fetch the defibrillator from the Job Centre Plus’s front entrance.
For Endaf Davies, this was his first experience of a cardiac arrest emergency and he said:
“I’ve never had CPR or defibrillator training. So, when I brought the defibrillator over, I opened the lid and just followed its voice instructions to deliver a shock.
“I’m still amazed today, just as I was then, at how easy it was to use.”
Together, Chris and Endaf performed CPR for more than five minutes and delivered two defibrillator shocks until Welsh Ambulance Service Senior Paramedic Stephen Bowles arrived and took over. An ambulance crew followed shortly afterwards. Stephen received on scene emergency care and was blue lighted to Morriston Hospital.
Stephen Bowles said: “Ambulance crews rarely get the chance to meet their patients again, so meeting Stephen - a cardiac arrest survivor - was very special for me. I think he was glad too, as I could explain from a medical perspective what had happened to him that day.
Reflecting on his experience, Stephen Booth said: “I don’t remember anything about that day. I woke up in Morriston Hospital seven days later and was told what had happened.
“I stayed in hospital for two weeks, had many tests, and had one stent fitted.
“I’m so grateful to the ambulance crew and the cardiac teams at Morriston Hospital, but Chris and Endaf truly helped start the process that saved my life.
“I was later told I’d received excellent CPR, which was vital to my recovery. I would encourage everyone to learn these lifesaving skills.”
Save a Life Cymru recently reunited Stephen with some of the people who helped him that day, where he thanked them and presented Save a Life Cymru/Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust Bystander Commendation Certificates. He is now a proud cardiac arrest survivor.
Julie Starling, Clinical Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Programme Manager for Wales, said: “At Save a Life Cymru, we always welcome the opportunity to recognise bystanders like Chris and Endaf, whose courage, compassion and commitment helped save Stephen’s life.
"We want to build a nation where people feel confident to call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator when someone collapses, is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
“Public intervention is the only way we will increase the number of people who survive a cardiac arrest in the community.”
Save a Life Cymru has also directed Stephen to the dedicated website and helpline that provide support for people following a cardiac arrest.
If you have been affected by a cardiac arrest and need support visit: www.resus.org.uk/public-resource/support-after-cardiac-arrest