A woman who suffered cardiac arrest while walking through the Botanic Garden on holiday in Edinburgh has been reunited with the hero paramedic who saved her life.
Jeanne Reilly, from Berkshire, was with her friend Jane Wood in the capital when she collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on July 30 last year.
A retired GP and an off-duty doctor performed CPR and used a nearby defibrillator while the emergency services were called.
Within two minutes Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues arrived at the scene. Jeanne was then transported to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and "kept alive" in the ambulance by paramedics Ian Harwood, Nickie Crowe, and Ricky Moffat, of Dalkeith Station.
"They arrived very quickly and then took me to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, giving me another shock in the ambulance," Jeanne said.
"I owe my life to all involved. I have been able to thank others personally, and my family and myself send thanks and more to the crew.
Jeanne spent 12 days in hospital and had a stent and ICD fitted, a device similar to a pacemaker, after the incident.
She added: “Had it not been for the quick thinking of everyone, I would not be back to enjoying life. The expertise of the ambulance paramedics kept me alive while I made the journey to the Edinburgh Infirmary. The medical team at ICU took over from there."
Jeanne recently returned to Edinburgh with family and friends to attend the unveiling of a new defibrillator installed where she collapsed - and she was reunited with hero SAS paramedic Ian Harwood who kept her alive that day.
Her friend Jane instigated the efforts to have the defibrillator installed, and raised £2086 through family and friends.
Jeanne said: “I was very pleased to see the newly installed defibrillator at the Terrace Café and it was a privilege to meet ambulance crew member Ian in person.
“I was thrilled that Ian had driven so quickly from the Botanics to the hospital. Putting names to faces and filling in some gaps in my experience has given me a sense of peace.
“We have all since spoken so fondly of the opportunity to meet together. Shiona Mackie, the retired GP, met us all again shortly after and gave us a tour of the Botanics in her capacity as a volunteer tour guide - that was special too."
She said it was vital for people to learn CPR skills for this year’s Restart a Heart Day on Sunday.
“I hope that more people are educated about where to find a defibrillator and how to use one, so that the percentage of those who survive a cardiac arrest out of hospital can increase," she said.
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