Leatherhead Leisure Centre employees Stuart Campbell and Kaine Bassett have been hailed heroes after their quick and decisive action saved the life of a customer who suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after using the gym.
On Monday 24th November, 57-year-old Colin Deer, a regular visitor to the centre in Surrey, left the centre following a gym session. After sitting in his car for around ten minutes feeling unwell, he made the life-saving decision to return and seek medical assistance.
The leisure centre team assessed him and quickly realised he was suffering from a heart problem. An ambulance was called but Colin went into cardiac arrest before it arrived.
Assistant Manager Stuart Campbell and Senior Recreation Assistant Kaine Bassett immediately began resuscitation, delivering chest compressions and rescue breaths with one of the centre’s three defibrillators. After two cycles of CPR and one shock from the defibrillator, Colin regained consciousness.
Emergency services arrived within six minutes and took over treatment, administering two further shocks before transferring Colin to the hospital where he is now recovering.
Colin Deer says: “I owe my life to Stuart and Kaine thanks to their swift and decisive actions. I am deeply grateful to them both and to all the other staff at Leatherhead Leisure Centre who helped on the day.”
Stuart Campbell added: “I’m very glad I could be there for Mr Deer when he needed help. I attend monthly CPR training as you never know when it might be needed. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my actions — and those of my colleague, Kaine Bassett — helped save his life.”
Leatherhead Leisure Centre General Manager Darren Pope says: “Mr Deer’s decision to re-enter the centre when he was feeling unwell was vital in enabling us to provide the help he needed. It’s a reminder to all of our customers to seek help if they need it – it’s what we are trained for.
“Mr Deer’s decision not only saved his own life but potentially prevented a major incident had he decided to drive home.”
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