Fife dad thanks SAS staff who saved his life after two cardiac arrests

A Fife dad who had a cardiac arrest at a gym has thanked the ambulance service staff who helped saved his life.

Parminder Singh, 53, of Kirkcaldy and who works as a Chartered Accountant, was at Edge Gymnasium in Kirkcaldy on September 13, 2023, when he suddenly felt tired before collapsing on the floor.

After receiving early CPR from a gym instructor with first aid knowledge, a 999 call was made. Three SAS vehicles were dispatched to the scene by staff at SAS’s East Ambulance Control Centre (ACC), the first arriving within five minutes, after the call was taken.

The staff who attended from the Scottish Ambulance Service were Pete Drummond, Technician at Kirkcaldy, Rob Bedford, Paramedic at Dunfermline, Viv Hunter Trainee Technician, Chris Fyffe, Technician, both of Glenrothes Station, and Joanna Kelly, 3rd year paramedic student at Stirling University. An Advanced Critical Care Practitioner was also dispatched.

To thank the staff involved, Mr Singh recently visited the ambulance team in Kirkcaldy to drop off a card and chocolates to say thanks.

Three SAS vehicles were dispatched to the scene by Nadine Mcgeachie and Alison Macdonald, the first arriving within five minutes, after the call was taken by Sarah Dawn Williams, all based at SAS’s East Ambulance Control Centre (ACC).

Speaking about the incident, Mr Singh, a dad-of-one who recently celebrated his 25^th wedding anniversary with his wife, said he doesn’t recall much.

He added: “I have been told that the gym's instructor saw me lying unconscious on the floor and heard me making strange gurgling noises. Luckily, the gym's instructor knew CPR and acted immediately to save me, whilst other members of the gym dialled 999.”

An ambulance was quickly dispatched and the SAS paramedics who attended gave further CPR and defibrillation at the gym, before Mr Singh was transported to the Accident and Emergency Department at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

Mr Singh added: “On the way to the hospital, my heart stopped a second time and the paramedics had to defibrillate me again in the ambulance.

“I have no doubt that I would not be alive today if it was not for excellent response from the staff of the Scottish Ambulance Service.”

Following his two arrests, Mr Singh urged everyone to learn CPR “as you never know when someone you know will have a heart attack or cardiac arrest”.

He added: “I am also very grateful for the effective CPR I was given at the gym by my instructor without which I would probably not be alive and well today. I am also very grateful to all the doctors, nurses and other staff who took care of me.

“I received fantastic care from the NHS at both Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy and Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. The good news is that I am now feeling much better, thanks to the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS.”

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