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Sunday, April 15, 2012


Ely rugby player saved after bystander CPR

Ely rugby player resuscitated by bystandersAlan Turpie suffered a cardiac arrest on Saturday afternoon whilst playing for Ely Tigers at Shelford. He was resuscitated on the pitch by team mates before paramedics arrived.
Gary Spitzer, of the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS), said: "I'd like to thank the patient's team-mates who gave us fantastic support at the scene. Their concern for their friend was clear and they helped us in every way they could."
The EEAS also said it had given instructions on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to Turpie's team mates.
Turpie's heart stopped due to a suspected blood clot and he collapsed. Thankfully the actions of his team mates were enough to keep him alive until the paramedics arrived and Turpie's heart started beating again before he was taken to hospital. He was struggling to breath by himself so doctors put him in to an induced coma and transferred him to Papworth where he was operated on.
A statement on the Ely Tigers website later said that Turpie was awake and talking in hospital, and that no permanent damage had been caused to his heart.
This story proves just how vital CPR training is and, unfortunately, that sudden cardiac arrest can strike at any time and at people of all ages.
You can be proactive and prepare for the event of a sudden cardiac arrest by finding out about our CPR Training, looking at our defibrillator packages for sport or supporting funded defibrillators for schools.