TWO men, credited with saving the life of a heart attack sufferer in Bangor, have been recognised by the British Heart Foundation.
Ben Emerson and Andrew Caulfield were awarded certificates from the charity, coinciding with the installation of a defibrillator at the scene where Caremark employee Roberta Workman suffered a heart attack.
Ben and Andrew, along with St John Ambulance volunteer Hugh Savage, are credited with saving Roberta’s life.
In October 2024, Roberta was at work at Caremark in Balloo industrial estate, when she complained of chest pains. Colleague Hugh was in the process of driving Roberta to hospital when it was realised she was suffering a heart attack.
Hugh was assisted by Ben and Andrew, who were working nearby, and they carried out CPR on the seriously ill Roberta, as well as using a defibrillator, until an ambulance arrived.
Since then, staff at Caremark have been raising money for the purchase of a defibrillator, and last week the apparatus was installed at Armstrong Beatie Tyre and Exhaust on Balloo Drive.
Paying tribute to the businesses for the ‘hugely positive and practical step’ of installing the free to use machine, North Down MLA Stephen Dunne referred to the life-saving actions of the three men in 2024.
He added: “The installation of this device ensures that, should another emergency occur, vital equipment will be immediately available while emergency services are en route.
“The defibrillator is clearly marked, easy to use, and provides step-by-step voice instructions, allowing members of the public to act quickly and confidently in an emergency. The new community defibrillator is now available free to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
