July 11, 2017 9.58 am This story is over 80 months old

Husband and dad-of-two meets off-duty paramedic who saved his life

A husband and father-of-two has met the off-duty paramedic who saved his life after he stopped breathing. David Lines, 39, and from Scunthorpe, was putting the bins out at the end of his driveway on April 9, 2015, when he collapsed. EMAS paramedic Chris Long was off-duty at home but as a volunteer medical first…
Chris Long with David Lines, whose life he saved by performing CPR after a collapse, in 2017.

A husband and father-of-two has met the off-duty paramedic who saved his life after he stopped breathing.

David Lines, 39, and from Scunthorpe, was putting the bins out at the end of his driveway on April 9, 2015, when he collapsed.

EMAS paramedic Chris Long was off-duty at home but as a volunteer medical first responder had made himself available to respond to emergencies within his community.

Chris was notified about David’s collapse and was on scene within minutes to start providing lifesaving CPR and defibrillation.

EMAS colleagues Michael Collins, Nick Jenson and David Felton soon assisted Chris.

David and his family were reunited with Chris at the ambulance service’s Rescue Day at 7 Lakes Country Park in Crowle.

Hundreds of staff from across all emergency services and rescue teams came together to educate the public on safety messages, to give live demonstrations evidencing the skills they have and challenges faced on scene at large incidents, and to raise vital funds for the local community.

David said: “It’s great to be here today and I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody at EMAS, especially Chris for responding on his day off.

“You saved my life.”

Wife Michelle said: “We will never be able to thank you enough, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

David now has a pacemaker fitted and enjoys life with Michelle and their two sons, Corey and William.