In the early hours of Saturday, March 9, 2024, Keith Titchin collapsed at home after experiencing a cardiac arrest. His wife, Diane, was awakened by unusual snoring noises and quickly discovered him unconscious on the floor. Acting swiftly, she dialed 999 and started performing CPR under the guidance of the ambulance service call handler.
Emergency teams from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) arrived promptly to administer further life-saving care before transporting Keith by land ambulance to Bristol Royal Infirmary. During his stay, Keith had three stents inserted and spent eight days in the Intensive Care Unit. He was then transferred to the brain injury unit at Frenchay Rehabilitation Centre due to mild brain hypoxia sustained during the cardiac arrest.
Keith’s recovery has been slow but steady. On Monday, June 16, he had the opportunity to meet paramedics Ben and Kieran, who had attended to him during the emergency, at Nailsea Ambulance Station in Bristol. Reflecting on the meeting, Keith expressed his gratitude: “It was an incredible joy to thank Ben and Kieran in person. I’m so thankful for everything they did to save my life.”
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Paramedic Benjamin Lamb said, “Reuniting with Keith and Diane today was a real pleasure. It’s fantastic to see him recovering well and living life to the fullest.”
Cardiac arrests occur predominantly at home—over 75% of cases—with survival rates sharply declining without immediate intervention. Each minute without CPR reduces the chance of survival by 10%, highlighting the critical importance of quick action. People are more likely to perform CPR on loved ones, which makes learning CPR an invaluable skill that can save lives.
Since returning home, Keith has regained much of his strength, resumed gym workouts, and aims to return to work in the upcoming months.