Before the start of the New Year’s Day match against Reading at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, Cambridge United steward, Paul Harrison was given a special presentation by East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA)…
It was thanks to Paul’s quick actions in October that life-long U’s supporter, David Ince, is still here to follow his beloved team. At the home match against Rotherham United, David suffered a cardiac arrest – a life-threatening emergency when every second counts.
Play was stopped while quick-thinking match steward and Addenbrooke’s hospital porter, Paul, administered CPR, quickly followed by treatment and care from EAAA’s Anglia Two (Cambridge) crew and the East of England Ambulance Service.
Paul’s actions started the chain of survival and gave David the best chance of survival and recovery.
Also at the presentation was Club captain, Michael Morrison and his family, who have a personal connection with EAAA. The Anglia Two (Cambridge) crew attended his young daughter earlier this year when she suffered a medical emergency and provided her with urgent out of hospital care before they accompanied her to hospital for further treatment.
EAAA provides critical care to, on average, six people every day across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The charity, which receives no regular government funding, relies almost entirely on public donations to provide the 24/7 life-saving service.
Both Michael’s daughter and David went on to make good recoveries, and Cambridge United Football Club were keen to raise awareness of the life-saving work of East Anglian Air Ambulance with the presentation before the New Year’s Day fixture.
Jordan Ellis, Aftercare Officer at EAAA, presented a certificate to Paul in acknowledgement of the life-saving CPR he performed on David.
“We were delighted to have the opportunity to attend this special presentation at Cambridge United Football Club with David, Paul and Michael’s family, Jordan said. “Moments like this are always memorable for former patients and their families as they move forward after a medical emergency.”
“Thank you to Rev. Wood and to Cambridge United for making this possible; they have always been hugely supportive of East Anglian Air Ambulance and raising the profile of the charity and the life-saving impact of the public.”
To find out more about EAAA or to support their cause, please visit their website.