A MAN who almost died twice after suddenly collapsing outside his flat has paid an emotional tribute to the heroic pair who raced out of a nearby pub to revive him and save his life.
Dawn Axe, manager of the Waterloo on Grange Road, Weymouth, ran out of her pub after Andy Lane suddenly fell off his motorcycle in the St Johns Court car park at approximately 8.45pm on Thursday, August 12.
As she left the pub, her friend and taxi driver Ricky Cleverley joined her as they saw the biker was unresponsive.
Both CPR trained, the pair took it in turns to perform chest compressions in a bid to revive him.
Dawn and Ricky carried out 20 minutes of chest compressions to revive him but he stopped breathing again, meaning the pair had to resume CPR.
Minutes later, the emergency services arrived where they were able to take over treatment before taking him Southampton General Hospital.
Looking back on the day, Andy said: “I had been with my ex-wife all day to see my daughter. Then on the evening I came back to go to my flat.
“The next thing I was waking up in hospital a fortnight later.”
Andy had suffered a brain haemorrhage and he was placed in an induced coma. It was from his hospital bed that he started to learn more about what happened and how Dawn and Ricky's quick thinking kept him alive.
He said: “My brother and son came to see me in Southampton and when I eventually recognised them, they started to tell me the story of what happened.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
Sandy, Mr Lane’s ex-wife, added how she learned about Ricky and Dawn saving his life after a chance encounter with a taxi driver.
Andy has since been gradually recovering back to full health, but is suffering some mobility and vision issues. But he commented how impressed hospital staff were with his recovery so far.
He described himself as ‘very lucky’ and how he will be forever thankful of Dawn and Ricky’s life-saving actions.
A clearly emotional Andy said: “The nurses are happy with the recovery I have made so far. I think I have been very lucky.
“It could have been a lot worse. My dad was 59 when he had the same thing, a brain haemorrhage and it killed him.
“So I have been lucky that these two were there and managed to keep me going until the ambulance crews came.
“I want to say thank you so much. They have given me a new lease of life. A second chance to try and enjoy life.”
The trio made an emotional reunion at the Waterloo on Thursday, September 23 where there were ‘lots of hugs’ and ‘sitting laughing and enjoying life’.
Ricky added: “It was nice to sit with him in better circumstances. It was lovely to see him and be with him.”
Dawn said: “To think it was several weeks ago it and then last Thursday he came into the pub, it was just amazing to see him again.”
The pair also highlighted the importance of learning CPR and believed the skill should be taught in schools and workplaces as it ‘could save someone’s life’.
Following the life-saving intervention, Waterloo pub aims to raise £3,000 to install a defibrillator for the community, with any additional funds being donated towards The Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital.
A number of local bands will perform at the pub with a few entertainers in a bid to raise money for the defibrillator on Saturday, November 6.
Donations can be found made through http://gofund.me/93bd714d
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