Retired Officer Reunited with Paramedics Who Saved His Life After Gym Collapse

A former police officer has reconnected with the off-duty paramedics credited with saving his life following his collapse at a gym. Richard Iles experienced a cardiac arrest in May while using a treadmill at an Everlast gym located in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire. The 57-year-old was fortunate that three off-duty paramedics observed the event and performed CPR, utilizing a public defibrillator until emergency ambulance personnel reached the scene. Mr Iles stated, “It was a surreal experience to know I had died in the gym and then felt well the next day in hospital.” Mr Iles, a resident of Carlton, reported having no recollection of the emergency. He recalled exercising on the treadmill one moment, then gradually regaining consciousness on the floor, attended by clinicians from the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. He commented: “I’ve been very lucky – thanks to the quick-thinking actions of those on scene, and the crews that responded to the 999 call, they got my heart beating again at the gym.” He continued, “I was then taken to Nottingham City Hospital, where I remained for nine days while I recovered.” Mr Iles added, “Without the early intervention of everyone involved, I don’t think I’d be here today to tell you my story – I’m extremely grateful to all of them who gave me a fighting chance at survival.” Jordan Griffiths, Naomi Richmond, and Lee McLaren, all off-duty paramedics, provided assistance to Mr Iles as the critical situation developed. Mr Griffiths stated that he and Mr McLaren promptly moved towards the scene upon observing a man collapse. Mr Griffiths further explained, “I started cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Richard and asked for someone to go and get a defibrillator, while also instructing the gym to clear people away while I continued with CPR.” He elaborated, “While a member of staff called 999, Lee and I were doing CPR on Richard in two-minute windows.” Lacking specialized equipment, Mr Griffiths relied solely on the basic information provided by the defibrillator regarding Mr Iles’s cardiac state. He added, “It advised me when to deliver a shock to his heart, when it was identified as being in a shockable rhythm.” Mr Griffiths concluded, “What I did with the CPR and use of the public access defib was simple but effective. “This can be done by any member of the public with the knowledge and confidence to do so.” Ms Richmond, who is a trainee advanced clinical practitioner, remarked, “Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests do not survive, so Richard has been extremely lucky.” Currently, Mr Iles has a device implanted to monitor and regulate his heart rhythm.