Grass fire crew helps man having heart attack

A fire crew responding to reports of a grass fire in Biddulph, who then went on to help a man who was experiencing a heart attack nearby, have been praised for their actions by the man whose life they helped to save.

The firefighters were responding to reports of a grass fire in Biddulph in June, which was deemed to be a false alarm, when they were alerted to a man needing help at nearby Biddulph Leisure Centre.

The man, Brian McGlynn, from Congleton, was attending his regular game of five-a-side football with friends when he collapsed.

Brian, who is 68 and never previously experienced any medical problems, had suffered a heart attack followed by a cardiac arrest at the scene.

His friends and staff at the leisure centre immediately began CPR, used the on-site defibrillator, and called the emergency services.

A fire crew from Biddulph crew were flagged down nearby and managed to intubate Brian, enabling him to breathe again before the ambulance and air ambulance arrived.

Brian was then taken to hospital by land ambulance and placed in an induced coma for five days before being discharged eight days’ later.

Brian said: “To be honest, my friends said they thought I was a goner; they said I had gone grey and wasn’t responding.

“Then the fire crew managed to get a pipe in my throat and my friends said the colour suddenly came back to my face.

“I’m told it was a great example of how the emergency services all worked together to save me.

“They brought me back to life.”

Crew Manager, Scott Leigh, said: “It was an extremely hot day so after realising the reported fire was a false alarm, I made the decision to ask the crew to drive around to meet me at the opposite end of the woods - the Leisure Centre side.

“As fate would have it, whilst driving back to the station, we were flagged down by one of the lifeguards and that is when we made our way into centre to find Brian.

“After establishing an effective airway, we also gave successful compressions which thankfully enabled Brian’s heart to beat again.”

Friend of Brian, David Mitchell, who was at the scene, said: “I was in goal at the time and Brian was stood just in front of me.

“He just started falling over so I grabbed him and we put him down and went to get the leisure centre staff.

“The crew was spotted nearby and we flagged them down and got them in through the back door.

“The crew assessed what had happened within seconds, I don’t think Brian would have survived without them.

“They knew exactly what they were doing, it was like they didn’t even need to speak to each other, they were so calm and just got on with it.

“From my point of view, my friend was dying in front of me, I had never seen anything like it, it’s shook us all up for a while.

“But we just want to give massive praise to the crew who without a shadow of a doubt, alongside the other services, saved his life.”

Since the incident, father-of-three Brian visited Biddulph fire station on Tuesday 4 August to personally thank the firefighters who helped him.

Brian said: “They were all very modest and said ‘it’s just part of their job’, but to me – them just doing their job saved my life.

“You know, I’ve done first aid courses myself, but you never know how you’re going to react in an emergency situation.

“The crew were so well-trained and immediately knew what to do – I just can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me, my wife and my children.”

Station Manager, Rob Hatton, added: “What the crew did that day demonstrates how committed they are to protect our communities from harm – whether that’s responding to a grass land fire, or helping members of the public – they will always do what they can to save lives and support others.

“I am immensely proud of them and their actions and know that they, along with all our firefighters, will continue to do all they can to help everyone in whatever way they can.”

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