Cycling medics at Heathrow were today praised for going to the aid of more than 4,000 people with serious and life-threatening conditions.
London Ambulance Service revealed the number of emergencies tackled by the world’s first airport medical bike team as it marks its 10th anniversary.
It came as British Airways worker Graham Clark celebrated with the paramedic who saved his life — nine years to the day since his heart was restarted after he collapsed at work.
Mr Clark was at Terminal 1 when he began to suffer severe pain in his chest and arms. He lost consciousness and stopped breathing within seconds.
Emergency medical technician Mick Hampson reached him in less than two minutes and restarted his heart after three attempts using the portable defibrillator carried on ambulance bikes.
Mr Hampson, 53, who has saved eight cardiac arrest patients in 10 years at Heathrow, said: “The fact that we are based here and I was able to get to him so quickly most probably made the difference between life and death.”
Mr Clark, 61, a grandfather of two, said: “All I can remember is saying to my colleagues that my chest and arm hurt. After that, everything went blank. I’m so grateful to Mick and my colleagues. It’s as if I’ve been given a second chance.”
In its first year, the team attended 473 incidents. It now has 15 staff and in 2013/14 responded to 5,915 calls for help. Of the 42,000 incidents since its founding in 2004, more than 4,000 have been of a serious nature.
Mr Hampson said the increase in cases had been driven by a greater number of passengers, especially older travellers. He added: “We’ve had massive success with cardiac arrests. Because we’re there in minutes instead of 20 to 30 minutes, it saves delays.”
