Fraser
did not know anyone, least of all the two people who were later to
save his life. As luck would have it, Gary and Devin were also
playing football that day and came to Fraser's aid immediately when
he collapsed while in the middle of a match. Gary and Devin, who
were 1st and 3rd year medical students, realised right away that
Fraser had stopped breathing and had no pulse. They took turns in
administering CPR.
Another fortunate turn of events revealed a portable heart
defibrillator was in the first aid kit at the sports centre. Gary
and Devin decided to use it, despite never having used one before
and miraculously Fraser's heart started beating again.
Both the boys followed Fraser in the ambulance to make sure he was
alright and were allowed to see him briefly before going on their
way.
By the
time my husband, Fraser's brother and myself arrived, Fraser was
awake but confused by what had happened. We then learned the
devastating news that Fraser suffers from
hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy.
After
following a recent story of the professional footballer Phil
O'Donnell's tragic death, we realised how fortunate we were that
Fraser had survived. Fraser is now on medication and has had an
implantable defibrillator inserted into his chest. He will never
play football again but that is a small price to pay for being
alive.
We spoke
to Gary and Devin, by telephone, and Fraser met up with them when he
returned to University to thank them personally. However, now that
the shock of what has happened to Fraser has started to ease, we are
aware of how lucky we are that so many people have helped Fraser.
Among
many, the foresight of the staff at the Garscube Sports Centre for
having a defibrillator, and the wonderful staff at the Coronary Care
Unit in the Western Infirmary, who treated us with such kindness at
a difficult time.
Gary and
Devin were heroes that day for realising so quickly how ill Fraser
was and for having the courage to not only administer CPR but to
have a go at using the defibrillator for the first time. There is no
doubt that they and the defibrillator saved Fraser's life.
I have
visited the CRY website on many occasions and read the many sad
stories of bereaved families following the tragic deaths of so many
young people. They have made me realise just how lucky we are.
Kathryn Thomas
