Canadian tourist who suffered cardiac arrest on Highland holiday saved by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters from Beauly who had been passing by hotel
Hero firefighters who saved a heart attack victim’s life after he collapsed outside a hotel have been honoured.
A crew from Beauly Fire Station had been returning from an unrelated incident in Glen Affric when they passed by the Cnoc Hotel in Struy just after the Canadian tourist had suffered a cardiac arrest on October 18 last year.
The chance encounter proved pivotal, with the crew’s training and swift actions helping to resuscitate the man using a nearby defibrillator which had been installed by local charity Lucky2BHere.
The tourist was subsequently taken to Raigmore Hospital where he was discharged the very next day having made a full recovery.
And the fire engine crew’s swift lifesaving actions were honoured when they aware recently awarded Certificates of Achievement from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the Greatix Award from the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Hailing his team’s swift actions, Station Commander Kevin Dingwall - who was also the incident commander that day - added that the chance encounter had an added level of good fortune, as the engine’s own on-board defibrillator had been temporarily out of action at the time - making the presence of Lucky2BHere’s community-based device vital.
He said: “A fortuitous set of circumstances led to our firefighters being immediately on scene and able to provide immediate assistance. The crew were returning from a separate incident at Glen Affric and just happened to pass the Cnoc Hotel whilst the gentleman had arrested.
“They were able to overcome the fact that their own Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was off-the-run whilst awaiting new batteries and pads, sourcing a nearby public access AED, supplied by local charity Lucky2BHere.
“Lucky2BHere are a registered charity operating throughout Scotland, providing public access AEDs and associated training.
“The casualty was transferred to the care of Scottish Ambulance Service at the scene, following successful resuscitation, being taken to Raigmore Hospital and discharged the following day, having made a full recovery.”
He added that the successful resuscitation had led to “new partnership working opportunities with the Lucky2BHere charity”, meaning more lives could be saved in future.
Lucky2BHere was founded in 2007 by Ross Cowie in Portree, and has now installed more than 800 defibrillators throughout Scotland and the north of England, providing associated emergency life support training.
