Shooting party praised after heart attack

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Shooting party praised after heart attack

John Radcliffe was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor by the Welsh Air Ambulance.

By Will Finch

Sunday, 04 December 2011

Shooting parties have been reminded of the importance of ensuring that at least one of their number is first aid trained, after the life of a Gun was saved by his fellow shooters.

John Radcliffe from London was one of eight Guns on a mixed driven day on the Presaddfed Hall estate on the Isle of Anglesey.

He collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest at the end of the day’s second drive.

Fortunately, beater Tim Garner and trainee keeper Mark Casey, who were advised by another beater, retired ambulance driver David Lynes, were able to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Mr Radcliffe was kept alive for almost 10 minutes until the paramedics and the Welsh Air Ambulance arrived.

Shoot owner Rosemary Hadcock said: “The doctor in charge of the medical team praised our staff for the excellent CPR that had been provided, confirming that without them our guest would almost certainly have lost his life.”

“This shows the importance of having fully trained first aid members in the team on a shooting day. We are very proud that our team, led by headkeeper Paul Graves, was able to keep cool, courteous and clear-headed in a crisis and achieve such a wonderful result.”

Upon their arrival, the medical team attended to Mr Radcliffe for a further 15 minutes before he was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor — eight minutes’ flying time away — while receiving more treatment in the helicopter.

Mr Radcliffe was later transferred to Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool, where doctors said he was making a good recovery.