Peter Blount was feeling perfectly well when he and his wife ran through the rain from a car park to a cinema in Melton Mowbray one evening in January 2025. After climbing 14 stairs, he experienced a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed. By 10am the following morning, he had woken up in hospital, wondering where he was.
Peter’s survival was made possible by the rapid response of those around him. His wife immediately started shouted for help, phoned 999 and began CPR. Shortly after, an off-duty firefighter passed by and took over. A Community First Responder then arrived, quickly followed by the Air Ambulance. Peter received three shocks from a defibrillator and his heart began beating normally again.
“The speed of the response made all the difference,” said Peter. “My wife started CPR straight away, others stepped in to help, and a defibrillator was available when I needed it. I’m incredibly grateful to every person who played a part in saving my life.”
After a week at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital, Peter was fitted with an ICD and began his recovery. Six months later, he was getting back to normal life, returning to his volunteering with the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), Scouting, and Community First Responder work.
Peter, who has previously trained more than 2,000 people in CPR, has now returned as an EMAS public CPR trainer.
“I know from my own experience just how important early CPR and defibrillation are,” Peter said. “Learning CPR and knowing where your nearest AED is could give someone the chance I was given.”