'I simply dropped dead.' : Man 'eternally grateful' to Gatwick staff for saving him

A man who had a cardiac arrest at Gatwick Airport said he is "eternally grateful" to staff for saving his life.

Passenger Eddie Barnes, 76, was in the North Terminal security area at 4.20am to catch a flight to Spain when his heart stopped.

A total of 12 staff members from security, passenger operations and the London Gatwick Fire Service immediately responded and gave CPR for more than 15 minutes.

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A defibrillator was also used to restart his heart before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Eddie, who lives just a few miles from the airport, said: “The cardiac arrest that I suffered must be the most profound experience for myself and those close to me and yet had the team at London Gatwick not successfully applied CPR, I would never have known a thing about it.

“I had absolutely no warning when it happened, I simply dropped dead. I am told that for more than 15 minutes CPR was applied in the course of which I received 16 broken ribs and the paddles were applied five times (and once more in the ambulance)."

Eddie, who is now fully recovered from the cardiac arrest which happened on October 24, said he is "eternally grateful" to the staff for not giving up. He has just visited the airport to meet them and say thank you in person.

He said: "The heart surgeon informed me the number of ribs broken bears testimony to how well the CPR was applied.

"It is hard work applying CPR and I will be eternally grateful to the team for not giving up.

"Strangely the experience has not left me with any psychological hang-ups.

"By the time I knew what had happened it was too late to worry and I have every confidence that the team at St Thomas's who supported me after I left Gatwick have dealt with the problem to prevent a recurrence.”

Scott Ronaldson and Przemyslaw Karpicki were some of the first colleagues at the airport to provide aid.

Scott, who works in passenger operations, said: “At the time Przemyslaw and I were close to finishing a night shift and were doing our usual lap to make sure everything was running smooth. It was when we were talking to security we noticed screens being pulled across.

“When we got to Eddie we noticed he wasn’t breathing. I tore his shirt off and commenced CPR with my colleague Przemyslaw until the rest of our team came with a defibrillator.

“I have had a few instances where CPR is required and every time I know I can rely on our amazing team to drop everything and come running to support."

Przemyslaw said: "We didn’t hesitate, we ran straight to him. Security called us to respond, but by then, we were already there, ready to help.

“Scott started CPR immediately since Eddie wasn’t breathing. Moments later two more of our colleagues joined us with a defibrillator to the scene.

"At that moment, during CPR, I wasn't thinking about my feelings, I was focused entirely on helping Eddie.

"But when I got home at the end of my shift, the reality hit me.

"Together with my colleagues, we did something incredible. We gave someone a chance to live, and that feels incredibly special.”