My debt of gratitude to lifesaving paramedics (From Echo)

My debt of gratitude to lifesaving paramedics

4:50am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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A MAN praised paramedics for saving his life after they spotted his heart was failing.

Edward Eaton, 64, thought he was suffering a bout of anxiety when he started gasping for breath at his home in West Street, Southend.

He dialled 999 and paramedics Brian Hilberry and Sarah Thorne turned up and quickly spotted his ankles and stomach were swollen, meaning something was seriously wrong with his heart.

Mr Eaton said: “They put two and two together and said ‘we’re going to take you in’.

“They rushed me to hospital. I had a clot on the heart, fluid on my lungs and had suffered heart failure.

“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here.”

Mr Eaton recovered in Southend Hospital for two weeks.

He has now met Brian to say thank you face-to-face.

He said: “I was quite overwhelmed to meet Brian again. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see Sarah because she was on a different shift. It was quite incredible really. Their quick-thinking saved my life.

“They are the first port of call for everyone and I think they are unsung heroes.”

Brian, 37, from Rochford, said it was lovely to have such positive feedback from a patient.

He said: “It’s nice to hear we are appreciated and we have done a good job. It perks you up.

“We have good times and bad times, but when you meet such a nice gentleman like Mr Eaton and receive a thank you it lifts your spirits.

“Working for the ambulance service is such a brilliant job, I love getting out and meeting different people and no two days are the same.”

Mr Eaton presented the two paramedics with flowers, champagne and gift vouchers.