A cardiac arrest survivor praised friends and emergency services for their quick actions which saved his life.

Marc Calderbank, from St Mark’s, expressed his gratitude from a hospital bed at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where he recently had triple heart bypass surgery after suffering his cardiac arrest that had come out of the blue.

In the June 18 edition of the Examiner we reported that he had collapsed while out cycling with his two friends Tara Jackson and Nick Pat, just metres away from where the Longest Day Longest Ride event was taking place on the Creg ny Baa Back Road on June 15.

’I know little about what happened, I was out for the count. I just dropped and remember waking up in the hospital,’ the 46-year-old told the Manx Independent. ’I smashed my helmet and broke three ribs, I fell quite badly.’

He and his friends had been practising for the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle in Ireland, which sees participants cycle 108 miles in one day. It takes place this Saturday (July 6).

On the day of his accident, they had set off on a 49-mile ride from St Mark’s at midday through Foxdale, Peel, Kirk Michael, Ramsey to Laxey where they had a break before making their way back.

Tara said: ’I was cycling at the front, Nick was behind and then Marc. We were going up slowly past Conrhenny plantation when Marc screamed out and fell off his bike.’

The couple thought he had fainted at first, but when they reached him he wasn’t responding and his arms were moving ’sporadically’.

They checked his head and neck, removing his helmet as it looked like it was choking him. They dialled 999 immediately before Nick carried out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Tara said: ’Marc was taking a big gasp every 20 seconds and his eyes were glazing over. The person on the phone was very good, timing all the compressions.

’I was told to get a defibrillator and so I thought "there is probably one at the Creg ny Baa pub". A car came past and an older couple came out to help.’

Another driver, David Barton, stopped to help also. Tara asked him to see if there was a defibrillator at the Creg ny Baa. On his way he found PCs Steffan Hoy and Pete Dyer who were taking part in the Longest Day Longest Ride event.

Bringing them back they then carried out CPR on the collapsed cyclist before the ambulance arrived.

’It was a team effort,’ Tara continued. ’The ambulance crew was absolutely amazing. They came in eight minutes after we phoned 999. They put a machine on Marc’s chest to carry out the compressions and used the defibrillator to restart his heart before taking him to Noble’s Hospital.’

Marc, who was later diagnosed with coronary artery disease, called it a ’scary’ experience finding out what had happened to him.

’You’re kind of shocked and in disbelief,’ he said. ’I’m very lucky Tara, Nick and I were together. I usually cycle on my own as I work long hours and normally go out very early in the morning and at night.

’If it wasn’t for Tara and Nick and everybody who helped I wouldn’t be here.

’I woke up to find I had a card from the paramedics, which was really nice. I was confused by it all, but I feel very lucky.’

He added that he would ’love’ to meet the paramedics, policemen and control room operators involved to express his gratitude and would like to thank his wife, Inga, who has ’been a rock through it all’.

All three would like to thank David Barton who looked after their bikes while they were taken to hospital by ambulance.

First aid

Tara, who has known Marc ever since he arrived in the island about five years ago, said both she and her partner Nick completed the Level 3 First Aid at Work accreditation last year.

Knowing the basics proved vital, she said, but ’it’s very different when it’s someone you know’.

She added it would be helpful to have an app detailing where the nearest defibrillators are around the island.

Manx charity Craig Heartstrong Foundation, which has fitted 45 defibrillators within the public domain and 300 at schools, sport venues and private homes for children in need around the island, confirmed it is working on an app to help residents.

Defibrillators

The charity was formed in memory of Craig Lunt, a talented Manx footballer who died in 2005 due to a previously undiagnosed heart defect.

’We’re trying to get an app. All information on where the defibrillators are has been given to emergency services and there are lists on our website and Facebook page,’ said Craig’s mother, Paula Lunt.

’However, it all comes down to cost. We’ve just reached our £1million mark in fundraising a couple of weeks ago. We’re so proud of the Manx people because it’s all come from them.’

She added the priority is on providing heart screenings to young adults aged 14 and 35 in the island.

The charity is also looking to bring in more defibrillators to the public domain, which cost £2,500 each,

’I’m not going to let any mother be where I am after I lost Craig. He would be turning 40 next week. It’s horrible,’ she said.

’He was such a good guy. Now our charity is saving so many lives because of all the heart defects that have been found.’