An Alston woman who went into cardiac arrest and suffered a stroke has been reunited with the air ambulance team who helped save her life.
Julia Richardson, 52, was at home with her partner and son in May 2023 when she told them that she was experiencing chest pains.
While Julia had experienced some chest pains the previous night that had worn off – this time, they weren’t going away, so emergency services were called.
A community first responder arrived at the house, as well as Julia’s daughter Kimberley Frazer, who had been told about what was happening by her dad.
Kimberley said: “Not long after I arrived, Mam went into cardiac arrest and I started CPR on her.”
Julia underwent both CPR and defibrillation and the North West Ambulance Service quickly requested the assistance of the critical care team from the Great North Air Ambulance Service due to the remote location of their home.
The air ambulance team had just airlifted an injured motorcyclist to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and after restocking their blood supply at the hospital, they flew to Alston.
The community first responder and team from the North West Ambulance Service delivered several shocks to Julia’s heart and managed to get it beating again.
Soon afterwards, the air ambulance team arrived and Julia into a medically induced coma to protect her brain and secure her airway.
She was flown from her home to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle in just 12 minutes while her family drove to the hospital and awaited further updates.
Kimberley said: “Theo, the doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, met us in A&E and he was really good and gave us an update on what he’d done and what was happening and kept us in the loop.
“Looking back, I don’t think we then understood the severity of the situation going forward.
“I remember saying to my husband, Nathan, I’m not leaving until she’s sat up talking to us. But once we were allowed to go in and see her the doctor spoke with us, and we were told to prepare ourselves for the next several months.”
Julia remained in a coma for ten days and stayed in hospital for just over three weeks before returning home and has been receiving support from a range of specialists including physiotherapists, psychologists and neuropsychologists.
She said: “They helped me start walking straight away, improved my balance and supported me being outside on my own. I was in an exercise group in Penrith with stroke patients for seven months before being discharged from the stroke team.
“They’re also supporting me going back to work and eventually going back to driving.”
Since the incident, Julia’s workplace Grisedale Court have held a fundraising event for the Great North Air Ambulance, and Julia has also set up a birthday fundraiser on Facebook which collectively raised £649 for the charity.
In addition to this, she recently reunited with the pilot and paramedic from GNAAS who helped her and was given a tour of the charity’s base in Langwathby, Penrith,
Julia said: “I must admit I was a bit nervous coming to the base because I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad I have met the team.
“I didn’t realise they delivered pre-hospital care. I thought the Great North Air Ambulance were there to get you from a to b quicker, but actually they have a critical care team on board, including a doctor who can treat you.
Kimberley added: “Alston is such a small community and everyone knows Mam so I think it’s given people a shock that it can happen to anyone.
“Until you’ve used the Great North Air Ambulance in a situation like this, you don’t have the same appreciation for them at all.”
GNAAS needs to raise £8.5 million a year to remain operational. To find out more about how you can support the charity visit: gna.as/fund247
