Cardiac Arrest Survivor Reunites With Paramedics

A mother of three young children from Sittingbourne was recently able to reunite with the ambulance service colleagues who helped to save her life last year.

Gemma Ledger, now aged 39, suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in the early hours of the morning on Monday 23rd January 2023, while her three children now aged two, five and 13 were asleep next door.

Gemma’s partner of 18 years, Richard, woke to what sounded like Gemma snoring, but when he tried to wake her, he found her gasping for air. Gemma became unconscious moments later and Richard immediately called 999, where he was instructed on how to perform effective CPR prior to the arrival of ambulance teams.

Arriving on scene was Operational Team Leader, Paul Ellis, Trainee Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Graham Seal, Ambulance Paramedic, Tobias Hiller-Wood, and Critical Care Paramedic, Kieren Pugh.

Crews administered an astonishing 10 shocks with a defibrillator before achieving a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and stabilising Gemma before taking her to Kings College Hospital in London.

Richard told SFM News: “The drive to Kings was one of the scariest of my life. It felt like it took forever. We were told that Gemma had a five per cent chance of survival for an out of hospital cardiac arrest, so I went through a range of emotions while travelling up to London. I can’t thank Graham enough for trying to keep my mind occupied while driving as quick as he could to Kings.”

Gemma spent a week in intensive care, before being moved to a general ward for a further two weeks recovery.

Both Gemma and Richard were recently able to visit South East Coast Ambulance’s Medway Make Ready Centre in Gillingham where they were reunited with the ambulance service colleagues who responded to Gemma, as well as being given a tour of the facility, including the Emergency Operations Centre.

Gemma told SFM News: “I have no memory of the event itself, until I woke up in hospital days later, so it was an eye-opener for me to meet those who helped me. I am so appreciative of their efforts and truly wouldn’t be here today without them.”

Richard went on to say: “Originally, we thought that Gemma had a low chance of survival, so it is truly a miracle that she’s here today. A big thank you to the team, they all do a great job every day and are lovely people. Many thanks from the bottom of our hearts.”

Graham told SFM News: “It’s rare that we ever get to meet a cardiac arrest survivor, and so I am so pleased that Gemma and Richard wanted to meet us. Richard’s good quality CPR played a huge factor as to why Gemma is still here today, and we can’t thank him enough for starting the process before our arrival.”

Gemma is on a long road to recovery and is taking every day as it comes. She suffers with a number of side-effects including tiredness, and since the incident has successfully been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).