Man has life saved - by heroes using the defibrillator he campaigned to buy

Man has life saved - by heroes using the defibrillator he campaigned to buy

Andy Hannan did not know he had heart problems when he was presented with a defibrillator that he would be the first to use two years later which would save his life

A strange twist of fate has resulted in a former Exeter city councilor having his life saved by a defibrillator which he secured a grant for.

Andy Hannan, who was unaware he had a heart problem, collapsed at an Exeter Strollers Walking Football session last Wednesday evening, November 4, on a football pitch at Wonford Sports Centre.

He had played a couple of games when his heart and breathing suddenly stopped.

Thanks to the heroic efforts of Sue Hutchings, a fellow Stroller who performed CPR and the use of a defibrillator at the sports center, Andy's heart was restarted.

Andy, a former Labor councilor in Exeter who is married to Kate, a former deputy mayor, is currently in hospital awaiting a triple heart bypass operation.

He has praised the efforts of all who helped him and says he now knows first hand the vital importance of having a defibrillator close by. If they are used within three minutes of a cardiac arrest there is a good chance of survival.

Andy said: "I was presented with the defibrillator on behalf of Exeter Strollers Walking Football Club at Wonford Sports Centre in September 2018, and had no idea it would play a significant role in saving my life last Wednesday when I suffered a cardiac arrest.

"I had made the application to Marina Asvachin, county councilor for Wonford and St Loyes, for funding the purchase of the defibrillator in total ignorance of my heart problems. I am amazed I was the first to benefit from its use. Strange, yes, but true.

"The heroic efforts of Sue Hutchings who applied CPR for long periods and managed the attempt to resuscitate me, and the calm support given by Jimmy Moore, the center manager, who operated the defibrillator, were also crucial."

Details of how Andy was brought back to life have been provided by Sue who is an RLSSUK lifesaving and first aid instructor, and teaches children as a volunteer at Bovey Tracey Lifesaving Club. She is also the GB Masters champion in First Aid, and is a campaigner for first aid to be taught in schools.

She recalled: "I was in the middle of the pitch waiting for the next game to start. I looked towards the exit and was aware that someone had fallen and was lying on the floor by the gate.

"I went over and realized that it was Andy. He was lying face down. I immediately put the back of my hand across his mouth and didn’t think he was breathing. I spoke to him and asked if he could hear me, but received no response.

"Andy then slightly moved his head so it was completely face down on the pitch. I tried to move his head but couldn’t. I then realised how serious this was and told the men around him to turn him over onto his back.

"It took about five of them to turn him, one holding his head. When he was on his back, I opened his airway, checked for breathing and there was nothing. I immediately started chest compressions."

While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Sue continued with CPR and was on her second lot of compressions when a defibrillator arrived.

Through the administration of both, movement was detected on the defibrillator and by the time paramedics arrived, Andy was coming round.

Sue said: "Without doubt, if the circumstances were different Andy would not be here today. It is completely ironic that the very first time the defibrillator was used it was on Andy, and that combined with the CPR that I performed on him, it undoubtedly saved his life.