A host of hero off-duty medics rushed to help a stricken fun runner in Sutton Coldfield who was moments away from dying. Peter Brown had travelled down from Manchester to take part in the 40th Royal Sutton Fun Run held on the streets of the town and its popular Sutton Park on Sunday, June 4 this year.
Peter, originally from Kingstanding, was taking part with his son Jack and almost made it to the finish line when the unthinkable happened. Peter collapsed by The Gate pub in Mill Street, only 200 yards from the end, suffering a cardiac arrest.
His heart had stopped beating but thankfully experienced medics rushed to his aid. A total of eight off-duty nurses, paramedics and ambulance technicians, some of whom had taken part in the 8.5-mile event, went to help Peter. They were clinical nurse specialist - Marie Wilkes; paramedics - Chris Harris and Terry Cox, intensive care sister - Emily Chitnes; critical care nurses - Rosie Thompson and Jen Owens and ambulance technicians - Megan Price and Vicki Sidwell.
Read more: Man given advanced life support after collapse at fun run
Win a lavish 5-night winter sun escape to Turkey with Cook’s Club Alanya hotel
The medics gave him CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) before St John Ambulance and West Midlands Ambulance Service medics arrived and he was given two defibrillator shocks. Peter was initially taken to the nearby Good Hope Hospital, a mile-and-a-half away.
But was then transferred to Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham where he was treated and assessed. It was discovered that Peter needed a heart bypass operation.
Peter said: “Quite simply I owe my life to these wonderful people. Without their intervention and expertise of knowing how to treat a person in cardiac arrest, and delivering high-quality CPR ahead of the West Midlands and St John Ambulance medical crews arriving at the scene with a defibrillator, I would have lost my life.
“I’d had no warning of any underlying health issues otherwise I wouldn’t have contemplated participating in the Fun Run.”
Read more: Thousands soak up sun at Royal Sutton Fun Run's 40th edition
Peter waited at Heartlands Hospital for a bed to become available at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, where he could undergo the specialist surgery. He said: “It was initially a triple heart bypass operation but, on the day, turned out to be a quadruple heart bypass!
“I was in hospital for over three weeks and have since been recovering at home. I’m now able to drive and hope to return to work at Manchester Airport before Christmas.
“These wonderful off-duty medics not only saved my life but saved my family and friends from an even more traumatic experience. I appreciate how lucky I am to be alive and hope with continued progress to return to Sutton in the future and participate in another Royal Sutton Fun Run.”
Peter was presented with a Royal Sutton Fun Run 2023 medal – something participants usually receive then they cross the finish line. With an exception made in this incredible circumstance.
Fun Run Director, Vanessa Hoe, presented the medal and said: “Everyone connected with the Fun Run is so pleased to hear Peter is continuing his recovery at home. He and his family have been through a traumatic experience but hopefully he will make a full recovery in time.
“It was a very distressing scene for those spectating in and around The Gate pub on the day. The positive reaction we received on social media to the news about Peter’s positive outcome was overwhelming and I’m sure the reaction will be very similar with the news about his continued progress back to full health."
Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox
She continued; “The response by the off-duty medics was nothing less than we’ve come to expect from our emergency service personnel. As Peter has said, there is little doubting that without their quick thinking and medical expertise in knowing what to do, the outcome would have been very different.
“We were so pleased most of the off-duty medics were able to join us to meet Peter so he could thank them in person for saving his life and delighted to present Peter with his official 2023 Royal Sutton Fun Run medal.”
