Near death resuscitate

[Jensone]

In December 2024 i was visiting a friend and he collapsed in front of me,in my state of panic dialled 000 and was talked through into applying CPR for a total of 7 minutes…. i was on the phone line after checked my call log before a team of ambos arrived to continue to resuscitate.They worked on him for 40 minutes and unable to find a pulse and was given worse case scenario due to no heartbeat.

They ambos continued whilst transferring him to hospital 3 minutes away with me fearing the worst.

Arriving at emergency myself was told not to expect any miracles or his organs will shut down,brain damage etc etc after taking in the enormity of what had happened I’d braced myself that he was going to die.

Over  the course of the next week in a self induced coma he continued to improve and low and behold he regained consciousness and had a defibrillator fitted by day 13 and not long term side affects 

It continues to weigh on me that i actually helped saved his life and i have moments of what ifs and it seems surreal that he actually survived after i was told there was no hope 

just wondering if anyone else has had this happen and the after affects that one carries after witnessing the near death experience of losing someone 

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

Well done, yes you actually saved their life. It would leave you in either shock or traumatised and that is very normal unless you've done it before. I have twice, as a prison officer and as a factory worker. The 2nd time was much easier, the process the directing of staff to do tasks, dial 000, take staff away to the lunch room, gather towels etc. But I was also trained for first aid.

The length of time in your and medics hands was extraordinary therefore the warnings of them not surviving were apt. However, they survived and "what if's" will drift away over time. In reality they were either going to survive or not and they did. Being realistic is important because your mind can focus on what is not beneficial to you. People pass away, its the way life is, we need to be grateful they lived and accept that as what is real.

So my message to you is that these feelings of a life changing event will drift away over time and like me you'll only think about it when the topic arises like it is here today for me.

We humans are placed here, I believe, to help others in many different forms, you help this person survive, you'll have a deep connection forever, although the inmate I used CPR on I wasnt keen on having him keep in contact with me lol.

All the best and relax, it was a monumental task and you succeeded.

TonyWK

[Jensone]

Many Thanks for your rational response TonyWK much appreciated 

First and only time I’ve performed CPR and it’s given me a sense of well done like you say if the the topic arises which it has in the last few weeks it kinda brings back the what ifs but as you say that feeling will drift away even though he wasn’t an inmate lol 😜 

thanks again regards Jensone 

[white knight]

Society doesn't often willingly give out pats on the back. Rest assured being a good human being willing to sacrifice some temporary mental health anxiety/ptsd is one good reason to exist. 

This experience will leave you humbled and so it should.

TonyWK