Starbeck ‘miracle’ saved elderly cyclist’s life

An elderly cyclist who collapsed riding through Starbeck has thanked the first aider whose ‘miraculous’ actions saved his life.
Pictured:  Sue Grant, St John Ambulance Unit Manager for Starbeck and Knaresborough Badgers pictured with David Inman (s).Pictured:  Sue Grant, St John Ambulance Unit Manager for Starbeck and Knaresborough Badgers pictured with David Inman (s).
Pictured: Sue Grant, St John Ambulance Unit Manager for Starbeck and Knaresborough Badgers pictured with David Inman (s).

80-year-old David Inman was successfully resuscitated by volunteer first aider Sue Grant after suffering a cardiac arrest on Starbeck High Street on January 25.

He had been returning home from his regular 30-mile ride to Fountains Abbey when the drama unfolded. Now, three months on and recovering well, he has been reunited with Sue.

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David said: “I’m so grateful to Sue as without her first aid intervention I wouldn’t have survived.
“It really is a miracle and I am living proof that first aid really works.

“I’m still undergoing treatment, but am recovering very well and I have Sue and a group of good Samaritans to thank for that.”

Sue said: “It was amazing to meet David and to see him looking so well and making a steady recovery.

“I’ve no doubt he will get back on his bike again soon.

“I’ve been teaching youngsters about the importance of learning first aid for years and how it can be the difference between life and death, so I hope my real life experience will inspire them.

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“We hope that David will be able to visit our young Badgers soon.

“David is proof that learning simple first aid skills saves lives.

“I was running late that day and wouldn’t normally have been in Starbeck at that time, so I am thankful I was able to start the cardiac chain of survival early to give David the best possible chance.

“The willingness of the local people to get involved and to help is truly heart warming and they should also be thanked for the huge part they played that day.”

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A Harrogate Advertiser call on our website and Facebook helped reveal the passers-by who helped save David’s life.

Walking back from church after midday near Prospect Road, Sue was alerted to the incident by a fellow churchgoer in distress who she knew had a hearing impairment.

Sue knew she could read lips and offered assistance and immediately jumped to action. A bystander had already called for an ambulance.

After assessment Sue knew David was not breathing and immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) along with a passer-by who also stopped to help.

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He had been first aid trained but had forgotten what to do, so Sue taught him the technique and the pair continued for 20 minutes.

A nurse driving by also came onto the scene to assist and Sue also showed her the CPR technique.

A local off-duty policeman was in the area and also stopped to help.

The group of good Samaritans, led by Sue, continued CPR until the ambulance arrived and paramedics took David to Harrogate Hospital, before transferring him to Leeds General Infirmary, where he underwent surgery and was kept in an induced coma for 3 days.

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David is now recovering well just a few months after the incident.

Sue joined St John Ambulance aged 12 as a Cadet and has held a number of volunteer roles with the charity for nearly 40 years.

She is now a Unit Manager for the Starbeck and Knaresborough Badgers and has been an active first aider with a strong presence at many events in and around Harrogate and Knaresborough.