Edinburgh dad reunited with paramedics who saved his life
Mike Pinkerton had a cardiac arrest in a veterinary surgery three years ago
Last updated 24th Jul 2019
A father saved by a vet after his heart stopped has been reunited with the ambulance staff who treated him.
Mike Pinkerton, 43, was shopping for cat food at Oak Tree Veterinary Surgery in Edinburgh three years ago when he suffered a cardiac arrest, lost consciousness and collapsed.
Vet Henrietta Linnemann performed CPR on him until paramedics Robin Yuill, Mark Dickson and technician Ryan Peat arrived and saved his life.
Mr Pinkerton, a communications manager at Edinburgh Council, has since gone on to raise thousands of pounds to fund defibrillators which are being placed around Edinburgh as part of St John Scotland's 'St John and the City'' project.
The father, from Edinburgh, was reunited with the Scottish Ambulance Service workers at a civic reception at the City Chambers, which celebrated more than 100 defibrillators being installed across the city as part of the project.
Mr Pinkerton said: "I still have absolutely no memory of what happened that morning.
"It was fantastic to finally meet Ryan, Robin and Mark, and thank them in person for doing such a great job - I know they'll often never get the chance to hear from or about the people they've helped.''
He added: "As soon as I became aware of what had happened, I was desperate to meet Henrietta and the other staff at the vets - and we've stayed in touch ever since - but that wasn't the whole story. I was conscious that I hadn't ever thanked the paramedics who'd brought me back to life.
"It was good to be able to meet them and fill in a few more gaps. It was actually Robin's first cardiac arrest, so he had particular reason to remember me and my dramas.
"It was great for them - and the other brave lifesavers - to be recognised by the Lord Provost and St John Scotland at the City Chambers. It was a very special and moving evening.''
The civic reception was held to thank those who have responded to cardiac arrest emergencies and who helped save the lives of Mr Pinkerton and four other people - Paul Burns, Jeremy Southam, Donald Scott and Colin Mackay.
These five survivors have since gone on to collectively raise more than #22,000 for the defibrillator project.
Mr Pinkerton alone has raised £9,180, which has so far funded six life-saving defibrillators, the latest of which will be installed on the top of Calton Hill.
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