The man who died 31 times

Derek Jones, centre, with two of the paramedics who saved his life, Toby Reid, left, and Chris Hawkins, right. Mr Jones was brought back from the dead a staggering 31 times in less than an hour.

23 December 2006 09:03

A Norwich electrician who was brought back from the dead a staggering 31 times in less than an hour has thanked the paramedics who refused to let him die.

Derek Jones, who celebrated his 55th birthday yesterday, astonished medics by surviving a series of potentially fatal heart attacks after being taken ill at work .

The grandfather-of-two, who lives in Hellesdon, was on his way to an electrical job in Sheringham when he began to feel unwell.

“I had a pain down the front of my chest and felt really hot. By the time I got to Sheringham, I felt terrible. I met my friend Martin (Baldry) at the job, he took one look at me and called the ambulance,” said Derek, who has two daughters, Katrina, 30, and Melissa, 24.

“I didn't have a clue what was happening to me, I thought it was something to do with a neck problem I've got. It didn't even cross my mind that I was having a heart attack.”

East of England Ambulance Service paramedics Chris Hawkins and Toby Reid arrived within six minutes of Martin's 999 call and immediately took an ECG (electrocardiogram) reading which confirmed that Derek had suffered a heart attack.

Derek was transferred to an ambulance to begin the 27-mile trip to the Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital. Five miles into the journey, his heart rate slowed to a life-threatening level.

He was immediately defibrillated, using a machine which administers an electric shock to the heart in order to re-establish a normal rhythm, and a third paramedic, Colin Woolacott, arrived in a rapid response vehicle to offer back-up.

For the remainder of the journey to hospital, Derek had a heart attack roughly every minute and required an incredible 30 further electric shocks.

“I've never encountered anything like it,” said Toby, who has been a paramedic for four years, “we would shock him and then he would come back, talk to us for a short period, and then it would happen again.

“Nearly every time his heart arrested I thought we wouldn't get him back, but we did.”

Unusually, Derek remembers several of the electric shocks administered to save his life.

“I thought I was in the middle of a nightmare and I tried to fight the paramedics off. In my line of work I've had plenty of electric shocks, but nothing like this.”

Chris, who has worked for the service for six years, added: “It was incredibly dramatic. You just couldn't believe that he kept fighting. We attend a great deal of heart attacks and if you give someone more than two or three electric shocks it's unlikely that they're going to survive.”

Heart specialists at the NNUH had been alerted to Derek's arrival, and were waiting to take over from Chris, Toby and Colin when they arrived at hospital at 1.50pm on November 21. Once in hospital, Derek's heart failed - and was revived - a further five times.

“I am very lucky to still be here,” said Derek, who was sent home from hospital seven days later after being prescribed a battery of drugs which he now takes to regulate his heart.

“There are no words to describe how I feel about the paramedics. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here today and I just can't thank them enough.”

Sharon, 45, Derek's wife of 28 years, said: “I think someone was looking down on Derek that day and saying 'it's not your time'. Without those paramedics, I wouldn't have any reason to celebrate this Christmas.

“Not many people are given a second chance like this

According to ambulance figures, fewer than one in four patients are successfully revived after suffering a heart attack.

John Scott, medical director at the ambulance service, said: “The attention and care provided by all members of the ambulance trust and subsequently by the hospital staff was quite exceptional. All are to be congratulated.

“I have never heard of a patient receiving this number of shocks before - he is truly lucky to be alive.”

(ends)

Do you want to thank someone who has saved your life? Email david.powles@archant.co.uk or call him on 01603 772447.

Factfile:

A heart attack happens when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries around the heart and a part of the heart muscle doesn't get an adequate supply of blood.

The sudden lack of blood supply can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle, an irregular heartbeat and sudden death.

?Heart attacks can happen at any time and can be brought on by intense physical or emotional stress, but equally can happen out of the blue when you are resting.

The British Heart Foundation advise people to dial 999 immediately if they experience the following symptoms; central chest pain, pain in arms, neck or jaw, feeling sick or sweaty and being short of breath.

Dialling 999 swiftly means that, if you need it, you can get a clot-busting drug within minutes of experiencing pain, which can restore the blood supply to your heart muscle and drastically increase your chances of survival.

??Visit the BHF website at www.bfh.org.uk for more information.

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