THE FLYING medics who helped save the life of a Goodwick woman have spoken of the dramatic rescue for the first time.

As the Western Telegraph reported last May, the air ambulance was called after Elizabeth Summers collapsed in her Goodwick home.

Her husband, Neil, and son Steve, a part-time firefighter, carried out CPR for more than 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived. Through their efforts and those of paramedics Elizabeth's heart restarted.

She was transferred from her home to an air ambulance helicopter that had landed on Goodwick United playing fields.

On duty that day were Welsh flying medics Dr Ami Jones, Dr Beth Barton and critical care practitioner Rhyan Curtin. The pilot was Captain Andy Iceton.

"Elizabeth's story is one of a real chain of survival success," said Dr Jones. "Had Elizabeth's family not performed immediate effective CPR and called for help, and had the Welsh Ambulance crew not done an excellent job with advanced life support then, without question, she would not have had such a positive outcome.

"When we arrived, Elizabeth's heart was beating by itself, but her blood pressure was still very low, and she was deeply unconscious. We gave her an anaesthetic that allowed us to insert a breathing tube. We also gave her drugs that would help her heart to beat more strongly and raise her blood pressure. Taking over Elizabeth's breathing meant that we could protect her lungs and that gave her damaged heart and brain the best chance of recovery.

"We diagnosed a likely heart attack so getting her to the specialist cardiac centre in Morriston Hospital as quickly as possible was vital. If we hadn't been there for Elizabeth, all of these procedures and her transfer to the cardiac centre would have been significantly delayed."

Elizabeth was flown from her home in Goodwick to Morriston in just 25 minutes

"I remember one of the Wales Air Ambulance crew telling me that the moment Eliz was in their care she was already effectively in an intensive care unit," said Neil.

Upon arrival at Morriston Hospital, Elizabeth suffered a third cardiac arrest during surgery, and she spent almost a month in a coma before showing small signs of improvement. After several weeks in hospital, she was discharged and started her long road to recovery.

A year after her ordeal Elizabeth and a group of friends and family shot a fun, classy calendar to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

"Following my ordeal, I can safely say I would not be here today if it wasn't for my family and the wonderful medics who saved my life," she said.

"I cannot thank the medics of Wales Air Ambulance enough for what they did for me."

"I had to do something to repay those who worked tirelessly to save my life, so I decided to hold a photoshoot with twelve local ladies. They included my daughter Michelle, granddaughter Georgia and my two sisters Irene and Sandra.

"What we came up with in the end was a classy calendar with all the ladies dressed up in costume. The calendars are on sale now and all proceeds raised will be donated to Wales Air Ambulance."

The 'Hat's Off' 2019 calendars are on sale now and can be purchased from Sanz in Fishguard and Belmont House, St David's. Further information can be found by emailing Elizabeth directly: elizabethannsummers@hotmail.co.uk.