Nurse from San Francisco: How I saved dying Inverness runner
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A NURSE who helped bring a jogger back to life on the Ness Islands has told of the drama that left her physically and mentally drained.
She contacted the Courier to say how glad she was that local businessman Kenneth Loades – who was among those who helped her carry out lifesaving CPR on Hilton Parish Church minister Hector Morrison (inset right) – has since started a campaign to raise at least £5000 to buy more heart-start defibrillators for the city.
Joan Roehling (48) was on holiday from San Francisco and enjoying a cycle tour around Inverness to celebrate her birthday last Saturday when she became aware of her tour guide asking if there was a doctor or nurse among them as they were alerted to Rev Morrison (64) collapsed on the ground.
Ms Roehling said: “I thought she was joking until I saw Hector on the ground. I jumped off the bike and ran to where he was lying on his left side, with his eyes open. I rolled him on his back, made a quick visual assessment, then tried to find a pulse on his neck. He was pulseless, with no spontaneous breathing, so I began American heart association CPR, which is rapid 100-120 compressions.
“At first I was calm and able to ask someone to call 999 and was quite proud I remembered not to ask for American 911.
“I asked for a thin shirt to act as a barrier to give rescue breaths, and for someone to help take over chest compressions.
Mr Loades stepped forward, and I coached him – showed where to place his hands on the chest and to lock his elbows and begin compressions.
“Minutes passed and others began to come to help. It was a team effort at this point, with each of us taking turns giving compressions and breaths. CPR is very physically demanding and I’m grateful to have had the help.”
Full story in today's Inverness Courier.
