A FATHER who suffered a cardiac arrest during a gym workout has thanked those who rushed to his aid and resuscitated him.

Postman Tony Kerrigan, 62, of Southend Road, Crays Hill, suffered the attack after a treadmill workout at Club Kingswood, in Clay Hill Lane, Basildon.

He was resuscitated by workers and off-duty medics who performed CPR and used a defibrillator after finding him collapsed in a stairwell.

Gym worker Christopher Brake, 30, said: “We thought he had knocked himself out but we checked for a pulse and there wasn’t a pulse.

“We did CPR and shocked him then waited until the ambulance came – we were shell shocked.”

Tony’s son, Danny Kerrigan, 33, of Mistley End, Basildon, who also works at the gym, said he was in disbelief and that his father is lucky to be alive.

Danny said: “At that time there was a junior doctor and a sports therapist in the gym.

“And there had been a power cut in the building moments before, so staff happened to be in the stairwell while checking equipment.
“If there hadn’t been a power cut they wouldn’t have found him so quickly.”
Danny, who was at home during the attack, received a call from a colleague saying his dad had fell ill.

He rushed to the gym where he saw Tony lying on the floor.
He said: “He was surrounded by paramedics and his lips were trembling.

“I’m glad I didn’t see what had happened beforehand.”

Danny added that his father, who is recovering from a triple heart bypass performed yesterday at Basildon Hospital, would like to thank those who saved him.

They are gym staff Chris Brake and Jamie Mitchell, gym member Michael Hinde, and a junior doctor who was at the scene when Mr Kerrigan collapsed on Tuesday, January 12.

Danny said the family has suffered a history of heart problems.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed paramedics were called to the scene at 5.10pm, to reports Mr Kerrigan was unconscious and breathing.

He was rushed to Basildon Hospital for further treatment.