Man who had cardiac arrest on train reunited with hospital staff who saved his life

A man who collapsed on a train was reunited with the off-duty staff from Guy’s and St Thomas’ who saved him and thanked them for his “second chance at life”.

Philip Le Pere, 54, was on his way home on a train from Waterloo East in January. As the train left London Bridge station, Philip suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Members of staff from nearby Guy’s and St Thomas’ happened to be in the carriage and adjoining carriage when he fell ill. Jenny Penn, sustainability communications and engagement manager at the Trust, enlisted the help of fellow passengers in lifting Philip onto the carriage floor. Karen Torre, haemophilia research nurse, and Dee Yissau, education and workforce lead for the London Neonatal Operational Delivery Network, immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another passenger talked to the train driver while an off duty paramedic rang the emergency services who provided medical advice over the phone.

Philip, from Swanley, said: “I was on my way home from work and going to visit my mum who lives in Welling. I got on the train at Waterloo East and that’s the last thing I remember – the rest is a blur – and I woke up in King’s College Hospital’s Emergency Department.

“Over Christmas I had felt a bit breathless at times and was meaning to speak to my GP, but never got round to it. I don’t remember feeling unwell before I collapsed so it was a shock to wake up in hospital!”

Jenny Penn, who works at Guy’s and St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital, said: “I was on my commute home when I heard someone making very loud noises then a passenger shouted out that someone was having difficulty breathing. I raced to the other end of the carriage and shouted for help in lifting him to the floor. I checked his airway for any blockage and that’s when we went into action. In all the commotion it struck me that no one was talking to Philip so I did just this, shouting for him to breathe during CPR.”

Karen Torre said: “Someone came running into my carriage shouting for help as a man wasn’t breathing well, so I went to see if I could help. When I got there, Philip was lying on the carriage floor, and my colleague Dee had already started CPR. I went over and started to help.

Dee and Karen took it in turns to deliver CPR for over 20 minutes as the train travelled from London Bridge station to Lewisham station.

Karen, Dee, Jenny, a paramedic and other passengers on the train helped to move Philip from the train onto the platform at Lewisham station, continuing CPR until London Ambulance Service, British Transport Police and local train station staff arrived.

Karen said: “I’ve never had to give CPR outside of a hospital setting, and it felt like a lifetime as the train continued moving to the next station.”

Jenny added: “When we were on the train we spotted that Philip had a work ID pass for the Met Police, and through my Neighbourhood Watch community contacts I managed to find out later that Philip had been taken to King’s College Hospital and had survived!”

Philip was treated in King’s College Hospital for a cardiac arrest and heart attack. He underwent life-saving heart surgery and had a stent fitted in his heart. After spending two weeks in hospital, Philip was discharged and continues taking medication at home.

Karen said: “When I heard that Philip had survived and was making a full recovery, I was so overjoyed!”

Philip, a photographic technician with the Metropolitan Police, said: “It was great to meet with Jenny, Karen and Dee, and to fill in the gaps in my memory. I was so amazed to hear what happened! I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me on that train journey home. I’m so grateful that I’ve been given a second chance at life.”

Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “We’re all so exceptionally proud of our colleagues who helped to save Philip’s life, and it’s great to see them reunited. Our staff go above and beyond in helping people, and not just when they’re at work.

“This is a powerful example of the importance of CPR and how starting it as quickly as possible will give that person the best possible chance of survival.”

What to do if someone has a heart attack or cardiac arrest

A heart attack is a circulatory problem, when a blockage in a blood vessel means the heart can’t pump blood around the body effectively. A cardiac arrest is when there is an electrical problem with the heart, leading to its complete failure to pump. A heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest, when the person collapses, becomes unresponsive and stops breathing.

Only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation. A fast response can help a person’s chances of survival.

If you are with someone who has a heart emergency:

• call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
• help the person to sit on the floor, leaning against a wall if possible
• the emergency call handler will talk you through how to do chest compressions if needed
• if there is someone else there, ask them to look for a defibrillator
• follow the instructions on the defibrillator. It will only shock a person if needed

If you are part of an organisation which has a defibrillator, you can register it on the national network.