Father Narrowly Escapes Death During Football Match: The Heroic Rescue That Saved Him
In a shocking turn of events during a routine 5-a-side football match, Keith Wilson, a father from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had a terrifying cardiac arrest on the pitch. Thanks to the quick thinking and heroic actions of those around him, Keith narrowly avoided death.
On March 11, 2022, just a few days after celebrating his 60th birthday, Keith and his son Louis, 23, headed to the football pitch as they usually did on Fridays. Little did they know that this match would be far from normal.
Louis vividly remembered the moment when his father collapsed backwards onto the ground. His body was tensed up, and he was struggling to breathe. Louis immediately shouted for help and checked his dad’s airways.
Luckily, two other players with first aid training rushed to Keith’s side and started performing CPR. One of them admitted he had never done more than put a plaster on in his 30 years as a first aider. Their swift actions were crucial in saving Keith’s life.
Adam, a firefighter whose child was playing on the youth team that day, also rushed over to join the group. He continued the resuscitation efforts, and with his guidance, a defibrillator available at Bournside School in Cheltenham was used to revive Keith.
The immediate administration of CPR and the use of the defibrillator doubled Keith’s chances of survival. Only 10% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive, making Keith one of the fortunate ones.
Louis admitted that it was a horrifying experience to witness the use of the defibrillator, but he expressed his gratitude for being there to help his father in the first place.
The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) was called, and land paramedics arrived at the scene in a critical care vehicle. Though Keith’s pulse had been restored, he remained unconscious. The medics conducted a heart trace and supported his breathing before rushing him to the nearest cardiac specialist unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Keith, who works in the rail industry, said he woke up in the ambulance and struggled physically. However, once admitted to the hospital, he recovered well. Although Keith had experienced breathlessness whilst exercising two months prior, doctors had sent him home with beta blockers and aspirin, believing it to be a common symptom that subsided quickly.
Reflecting on his situation, Keith expressed both his unluckiness and luckiness. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, he suffered a cardiac arrest. However, he was fortunate that his son, football teammates, Adam the fireman, the ambulance crew, and the GWAAC team were present to give him the best chance of survival.
After spending a week in the hospital, where he received excellent care, Keith was able to return home. He quickly recovered and was up and about in just a couple of days. The only lingering discomfort was the bruising of his ribs from the CPR. Within four months, Keith had a stent fitted to help with his breathing and was back on the football pitch playing the sport he loved.
Keith and his family expressed endless gratitude towards everyone involved in saving his life. They especially wanted to honor Adam the firefighter with a special award. However, when Keith approached Adam, instead of receiving the award, he was met with a standing ovation from the crowd. The overwhelming display of support and appreciation moved Keith to tears.
Today, Keith feels fitter than ever and recently climbed Ben Nevis with his two sons. Despite his age, he is grateful for his remarkable recovery and the opportunity to continue enjoying life’s adventures.
Keith’s family echoes his sentiments, expressing immense gratitude for the ambulance team, the fire brigade, his teammates, and Adam the off-duty fireman for their swift actions and for ultimately saving his life.
