'They saved his life' (From Watford Observer)

Watford teacher's thanks after staff revive him after suffering a heart attack

11:47am Thursday 11th November 2010 in News By Michael Pickard

A teacher minutes from death was brought back to life by a machine donated to his school in memory of a former pupil.

Quick-thinking staff at Francis Combe Academy used a defibrillator to kick-start Anthony Taylor's pulse after he suffered a heart attack.

The life-saving machine was donated to the Horseshoe Lane school nine months ago by Wayne's Fund, a charity launched in memory of Wayne Pope who died unexpectedly in 2005.

Anthony, 60, said yesterday (Wednesday): “Now I'm feeling fine; just a few bruises. I'm going to take it easy and make sure I don't put my family through a similar crisis again.

“I will be very glad when I get back to working with so many close friends among the staff and with children in a school that I love. I've got a couple of good years left in me.”

Anthony, head of history and Year 10, went to collect books from a classroom when he collapsed into a chair shortly after 12pm on Wednesday, November 3.

Remembering that the father-of-two had previously complained of chest pains, despite extensive tests finding nothing wrong, vice principal Steve McShannon grabbed the defibrillator and went with Sarah Whitman to find the teacher unconscious and without a pulse.

The pair moved Anthony to the floor, bared his chest and used the machine to shock his heart.

Steve, who was once taught by Anthony, said: “The thing I remember was seeing snippets of people coming in and out asking what I want them to do. That was reassuring.

“That machine telling us what to do made all the difference. It was like I didn't have to think, and then I felt numb for a couple of days. It was like I didn't experience it first hand.”

Paramedic Keir Rutherford, driving a first response vehicle, was first at the scene, shortly followed by an ambulance manned by paramedic Lesley Parker and emergency medical technician Louise Mayes.

They rushed Anthony to Watford General Hospital, where he spent time in intensive care and the coronary care unit before his release on Tuesday.

He also had an internal cardiac defibrillator inserted into his chest, which recognises the symptoms of a future heart attack and automatically shocks the heart if necessary.

“These guys were fantastic,” said Keir. “They saved his life. The more time that goes by after someone goes into cardiac arrest, the less chance of survival. That's why he's here today.”

Anthony's wife Emma, a one-to-one tutor at Francis Combe, was teaching when her husband was taken ill.

She said: “The consultants said that without the speed of Steve's actions and the other staff, and without the defibrillator, there's no chance he would be alive now.

“My children and I just cannot thank everyone enough. We couldn't have faced a life without him.”

Anthony, a teacher at Francis Combe for 35 years, said he was “unbelievably lucky” to be alive and was “forever indebted” to his colleagues, paramedics and hospital staff who helped him.

“Words cannot really express my gratitude properly to Steve,” he said. “How can you properly thank the man who saved your life? It wasn't just the speed of the reaction but the fact Steve knew exactly what to do when every second was part of a countdown to my death.”

Wayne Pope died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (Sads), a rare condition that affects apparently healthy people, just ten days after his 30th birthday, in 2005.

A charity created in his name, Wayne's Fund, now raises money to donate defibrillators to schools across south-west Hertfordshire.

And Anthony has vowed to take part in next year's Wayne's Fund bike ride to raise money for the machines.

He said: “I feel totally humbled by the family's selfless decision to give life back to others when they suffered the tragedy of losing life in their own family.

Wayne's brother Glynn, from Creasy Close, Abbots Langley, said his legs “turned to jelly” when he was told Mr Taylor's life had been saved.

He said: “We have always said if one machine was used, everything we have done would be worthwhile.

“We feel all the effort we have been doing over the last five years has really paid off. It was really emotional and overwhelming.

“Knowing he wants to support us now is worth its weight in gold. My brother was quite fond of Mr Taylor. He was a big music fan and had a lot of time for him.”

Kings Langley School is one of two schools, the other is in St Albans, which will receive defibrillators in the near future.

Glynn added: “What we went through when my brother died was an experience I could never describe. Knowing we saved his life and his family didn't have to go through that is a brilliant feeling.”

Schools interested in receiving a defibrillator should email glynn.pope@hotmail.com.