GP trainee helps save the life of a runner who suffered cardiac arrest on the streets of Liverpool

Dr Mel Hamilton, a GPST2 trainee at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool is reunited with the man she performed life-saving CPR* on in the early morning of March 9.

The chance encounter, following a cycle home after a long night shift, saw Mel rush towards a crowd of people trying to help Grant Williams, who had gone into cardiac arrest while out running with a group of friends.

Mel explains: "It was around 9:30am on Saturday morning when I noticed a commotion as I was cycling by. There were people crowded around and I could see someone collapsed on the floor while another person had put them in the recovery position.

"Grant, was pale, grey, unresponsive and not making enough respiratory effort. That's when I began performing chest compressions."

Unbeknownst to Mel, her friend from her time at university, Dr Joe Clarkson was in the barbershop across the road when he leapt – mid-haircut – to assist Mel in her efforts to save Grant.

Mel continued: "I was very surprised to see Joe, and we took turns performing CPR while Grant's friends searched for a community defibrillator, and we awaited the paramedics."

With over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening in the UK each year and only 1 in 10 surviving **, Grant's chances of survival were greatly increased by the early intervention of quick-thinking friends alongside Mel and Joe's support.

After initially resuscitating Grant, he went into a second arrest and Mel helped administer a shock with the defibrillator which had been sourced from a nearby Tesco. As the paramedics arrived, Mel was unsure what became of Grant until he appeared on BBC Breakfast last week to appeal for his life-saving doctors.

"News travelled fast once Grant had appealed on the BBC. We learnt he had received a quadruple heart bypass at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and survived. After the story made its way onto social media and some of our doctor forum groups, it didn't take long until they found me and Joe."

Reunited this week in Greenbank Park, Grant got the chance to share his thanks with the doctors who helped to save him.

Grant said: "What Mel and Joe did for me was absolutely unbelievable, I am forever grateful to them and everyone who helped save my life that day. It's really emphasised to me the importance of accessible defibrillators and how to perform CPR, so I'm going to fundraise for more defibs to be placed in the community and to help raise awareness. Hopefully, we'll meet with Mel and Joe in a few weeks for something to eat, it's the least I can do in return!"

Reflecting on the experience Mel said: "I'm halfway through my GP training programme and so in a hospital setting I am used to these types of clinical emergencies; however it takes you by surprise when it happens off-duty. I did feel quite emotional about it afterwards, as I was so full of adrenaline in the moment. From a career point of view, I chose to be a GP because I like being out in the community, I like the challenge of having to work with what you have without the usual support around you. I feel very grateful to have been there for Grant, at the right time."

Learn how to CPR in 15 minutes through the British Heart Foundation: Learn CPR in 15 minutes | RevivR | BHF - BHF

*Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

** Improving chances of surviving a cardiac arrest - BHF