Latest news with #EastAnglianAirAmbulance
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Healthy' schoolgirl, 17, ‘dies' in front of terrified classmates after GP dismissed symptoms as ‘anxiety'
TEENAGER Evelyn Walker was assured by doctors that her symptoms were caused by anxiety. But two years later, the seemingly fit and healthy 17-year-old schoolgirl collapsed and 'died' in front of her terrified classmates. 8 8 Sixth form student Evelyn began her day as normal on February 7 but started to feel unwell before her first lesson. She was experiencing chest pains, nausea and fatigue and quickly collapsed in her form room. Evelyn had gone into cardiac arrest; her heart had suddenly stopped beating and she wasn't breathing. A teacher raced across the building to grab their on-site defibrillator while school staff desperately performed CPR. The school's medical officer then shocked an unconscious Evelyn twice in a frantic bid to restart her heart and bring her back to life. Evelyn, a year 12 pupil, believes her heart stopped for five minutes before she was stabilised by paramedics from the East Anglian Air Ambulance and blue-lighted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. There, she was placed in a three-day coma and admitted for a month before being fitted with an internal defibrillator to prevent any similar incidents in the future. Evelyn, who lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, says: 'It was just a normal morning. 'I got up, had my breakfast, got ready, walked to school with my friend, but when I arrived at around 8.30am, I basically just collapsed. 'I felt fine that morning. Everything was normal until I started getting chest pains, began feeling sick and collapsed. Woman left fighting for her life in organ failure after 4 cardiac arrests moments after sipping drink loved by millions 'I don't have any memories of the event. I completely blacked out. 'I just remember waking up in hospital a few days later.' As soon as her petrified mum Jennifer and dad Nick heard what happened, they rushed to their daughter's side. Jennifer, 47, says: 'It was the worst moment of my entire life. 'I was in bed asleep having a lie-in and heard my phone going then saw the word 'ambulance' on my phone. 'I just thought Evelyn had bumped her head or fallen over. Then the police were on my doorstep and I just thought she was dead. 'It was absolutely awful. I was screaming and screaming. 'Then when I realised she wasn't dead, I chucked some jeans on and we went to the school. 'I was in complete shock. Nothing like this had ever happened before. 'It was completely out of the blue. She's a healthy, vibrant young girl.' FOBBED OFF BY DOCS Despite being 'dead' for five minutes straight, Evelyn miraculously made a full recovery. Medics initially said there was no clear cause of the sudden cardiac arrest, but the schoolgirl believes she may have an underlying heart issue. Evelyn had flagged chest pains to her GP two years earlier, but says they were dismissed as ' anxiety ' - though she wasn't prescribed any medication. After multiple tests, doctors now believe there may be abnormalities in Evelyn's heart, but the medical cause of her cardiac arrest is still under investigation. After being fobbed off by her GP, she is urging others to push medical professionals for answers when it comes to concerns about their health. 12 young people under 35 die each week in the UK from sudden cardiac arrest. Don't assume your symptoms are nothing Jennifer WalkerMum Evelyn, who loves performing arts and does theatre outside of school, says: 'I thought I was young and healthy and nothing like this would ever happen to me. 'The only indication that I had any issue was that I had mild chest pains. 'We went to the GP about it a couple of years ago but they just put it down to physical symptoms of anxiety and it never got investigated. 'We still don't know if that was linked to my cardiac arrest, but I'm quite frustrated that I was brushed aside, probably just because I'm a young person. 'I'm sure if I was over 60 and complaining of chest pain, they would have looked into it further. 'Don't just assume that doctors are right. You know your body better than anyone else. 'If you think something is off then don't be afraid to push. Heart problems can affect anyone.' 8 8 8 She adds: 'My outlook on life has really changed. 'Now that this has happened, I just want to pursue the life that I want to live. I feel like I've been given a second chance. 'I want to take every opportunity that is handed to me, pursue a career in the creative arts and not be so afraid of failure.' Jennifer, a bid consultant who has launched a Facebook page called Young Hearts UK to help raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest in young people, wants more people to learn CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training in light of her daughter's episode. Heart attack vs cardiac arrest A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. The heart muscle is robbed of its vital blood supply and, if left untreated, will begin to die because it is not getting enough oxygen. A cardiac arrest is when a person's heart stops pumping blood around their body and they stop breathing normally. Many cardiac arrests in adults happen because of a heart attack. This is because a person who is having a heart attack may develop a dangerous heart rhythm, which can cause a cardiac arrest. A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are both emergency situations. A cardiac arrest is caused by a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm, which happens when the electrical system in the heart isn't working properly. Not all abnormal heart rhythms are life-threatening, but some mean that the heart cannot pump blood around the body. If someone is in cardiac arrest, they collapse suddenly and: Will be unconscious Unresponsive, and Not breathing or not breathing normally – this may mean they're making gasping noises. Without immediate treatment, the person will die. If you see someone having a cardiac arrest, phone 999 immediately and start CPR. Source: NHS She says: 'If you have some sort of chest pain, get it looked into and don't just assume it's nothing. 'If [doctors] had just done a five-minute ECG, they would've seen Evelyn's results weren't normal. 'Sudden cardiac arrest is fairly rare for young people but not unheard of. 'In fact, 12 young people under 35 die each week in the UK from it. 'That's why we want people to know CPR and to know where their nearest defibrillator is.' 8 8 8 How to do CPR If someone is unconscious, not breathing and has a weak or no pulse, call an ambulance and ask a bystander to find a defibrillator then start CPR 1. Lie the person flat on their back on the floor and remove anything from behind their head. 2. Kneel by their side. Put one hand flat in the middle of their chest and the other on top of it, locking your fingers together. 3. Lean over their chest and keep your arms straight to push directly down with your body weight. 4. Push hard on the chest about twice per second (in time to the tune of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees) keeping your arms straight and aiming to squash it by 5cm to 6cm each time. 5. Keep going until paramedics arrive.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Mother, 30, was killed while pushing her daughter's pram after being hit by loose crane equipment hanging off lorry, court told
A mother was killed while pushing her toddler in a pram when she was struck by crane equipment hanging off a lorry trailer, a court has heard. Rebecca Ableman, 30, was out with then two-year-old Autumn in the Cambridgeshire village of Willingham when she was hit on the head. Prosecutor William Carter told a jury that the equipment was not properly secured and was 'plainly potentially lethal'. Lorry driver Kevin Miller, 70, denies causing death by dangerous driving and is on trial at Peterborough Crown Court. The defendant was transporting scrap metal from King's Lynn docks in Norfolk to two Network Rail depots in Essex and Cambridgeshire on September 22, 2022, jurors were told. He was driving through Willingham on B1050 road when the loose crane equipment allegedly shifted from its position and was left hanging over the edge of the trailer, dangling in the way of a footpath. Ms Ableman had just left a farm shop with her daughter when she was hit by the heavy equipment at around 11.15am. The court heard the NHS healthcare assistant suffered 'very serious head and brain injuries'. She died three weeks later on October 16 in the neuro intensive care unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Thomas Butler, who was driving along the road at the time of the collision, told the court he had noticed the unsecured equipment. '[I] thought it looked horrendous and I told my wife it doesn't look all right,' he said. He then spotted a woman lying on the road with cars that had stopped nearby and there were 'people running around all over the place'. Miller, of King's Lynn, was not arrested until 1.45pm and claimed he had been unaware of the incident, the jury was told. The prosecutor told the court he said he would have stopped if he had know about it and police officers heard him say: 'What's happened mate? I ain't hit no one.' The case opened yesterday with a packed courtroom gallery that included several members of Ms Ableman's family, including her partner Chris Tuczemskyi, 36, a product marketing manager. Paying tribute to Ms Ableman, who he planned to marry, at the time of her death, he said: 'To me, she was my light in the darkest of nights, my rock for when I stumbled and my best friend. 'She made me a better person, she pushed me to be and do better because she could see my potential when I could not.' Mr Tuczemskyi started a fundraising page on GoFundMe in memory of Ms Ableman, who worked in a mental health hospital in Cambridge, with funds going to East Anglian Air Ambulance and Addenbrooke's Neuro ICU. It has received more than £18,000 to date. He was also raising funds for Autumn to explore the world and create a memorial bench for her late mother. She had her first day at Willingham Primary School in September last year. The trial continues.
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
William and Kate went to an Easter service in Sandringham with Carole and Michael Middleton - with Charlotte, George and Louis enjoying hot cross buns inside the church
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children celebrated Easter with the Middleton family at Sandringham this weekend. William and Kate were seen attending the 11 O'clock service at St Mary Magdalene Church yesterday along with Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton. Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six, were given hot cross buns to enjoy inside the church. While other members of the royal family came together to celebrate at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, William and Kate and their three children opted for a smaller affair. Kate was dressed in a long camel coat and a trilby brown hat, whilst William was smartly dressed in a dark suit. They were all handed wrapped hot cross buns by the vicar, Canon Paul Williams, as they left. A crowd of around 150 Royal fans gathered outside the church, hoping to catch a glimpse of the family, but were left disappointed when they went out the back door. The Sandringham estate also had an Easter egg trail in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, where Prince William worked for from 2015 to 2017. King Charles and Queen Camilla attended an Easter service yesterday at St George's Chapel, with most other members of the Royal family, including the Duke of York. The Waleses also missed the annual service last year after Kate, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer. A crowd of around 150 royal fans gathered outside the church, hoping to catch a glimpse of the family, but were left disappointed when they left discreetly out of the back door. Meanwhile the Sandringham estate had an Easter egg trail in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, who Prince William worked for from 2015 to 2017. King Charles and Queen Camilla attended an Easter service yesterday at St George's Chapel, with most other members of the Royal family, including the Duke of York. Prince Andrew grinned as he appeared at an Easter Sunday service with other members of the royal family. The disgraced Duke seemed in high spirits as he joined his brother Charles at St George's Chapel. Disgraced Prince Andrew joined Charles and Camilla today at the traditional Easter Matins service in the 15th century chapel in Berkshire. Also in attendance were Princesses Beatrice and Princess Eugenie donned their Easter best for the occasion. Princess Beatrice, 36, was seen making a striking fashion statement in a stylish gold patterned headband as she chatted with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in the grounds of St George's Chapel ahead of the seasonal service. Princess Eugenie, 35, looked elegant in all white and a matching veiled headpiece. The royal fashionista completed the ensemble with a white longline belted coat, nude suede pointed pumps and a nude tote bag as she joined her husband Jack Brooksbank and mother Sarah Ferguson for the gathering. It comes as King Charles today made a light-hearted joke about his health as he returned to the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral after missing last year due to his cancer diagnosis. The monarch, 76, who issued a special Easter message, appeared in high spirits as he arrived alongside Queen Camilla at the Cathedral in the northeast of England. Speaking to crowds afterwards, Charles joked that 'it was all mirrors' when a well-wisher said he was looking well while he and the Queen marked Maundy Thursday paying respects to Second World War heroes and the Queen Mother. The King and Queen went on a 'walkabout' outside the cathedral as hundreds gathered to cheer them on their way. Pat Johnson, 54, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, attracted Charles's attention after bringing 18-month-old Pembrokeshire corgi Lilibet to the stand outside the service. She said afterwards: 'He asked if she was friendly and he asked me what her name was. 'I said I named her after your mother and said "you look well" and he said "you are very kind but it's all mirrors".' The King met attendees outside the Cathedral before entering alongside Camilla and other attendees.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Abbott launches portable concussion blood test in UK
Abbott has launched its portable whole blood test for assessing suspected mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI/concussions) in the UK. Tests for assessing concussions have historically only been authorised for use with blood plasma or serum, meaning samples first need to be sent to a lab for testing. Abbott's i-STAT Alinity testing instrument comes in the form of a handheld console venous whole blood samples on Abbott's i-STAT TBI cartridge are placed into. Suitable for evaluating patients 18 years and above with suspected concussions up to 24 hours post-injury, the test measures two brain-specific biomarkers that are released into the bloodstream following a traumatic brain injury, yielding lab-quality results within 15 minutes. Abbott stated that the instrument enables testing to be performed in a broad range of healthcare settings beyond hospital emergency departments where moderate complexity tests are typically performed. According to Abbott, the test results alongside other clinical information can determine the next best steps for patient care and help rule out the need for a CT scan of the head. By contrast, concussion assessment has historically relied on the Glasgow Coma Scale, a subjective assessment performed by doctors, and CT scans to determine whether a concussion has caused any damage to the brain tissue. Clinicians have needed a test to objectively assess patients with concussion, said Abbott's diagnostics business medical director Dr Beth McQuiston, pointing out that many other diseases or organs in the body are already availed of blood tests to 'help assess what's happening'. 'Now, we have a whole blood test that can help assess the brain right at the patient's bedside – expanding access to more health providers and therefore patients,' said McQuiston. 'We know this test has the potential to forever change how concussion and mTBI evaluations are conducted moving forward.' UK-based charity the East Anglian Air Ambulance is currently evaluating Abbott's test, alongside existing protocols, on patients at risk of traumatic brain injury as part of a 12-month study. Describing head trauma as a 'disease of time', Dr James Price, consultant emergency physician at the East Anglian Air Ambulance, said that measuring brain biomarkers at the scene of an accident may support its specialist teams by informing critical diagnostic decisions in real-time, thereby ensuring that a patient is transferred to a hospital best-suited to their needs, opposed to one that is nearest. Price said: 'While our initial study will assess the feasibility of measuring blood biomarkers in the hyper-acute phase of care, we hope if successful, this test will be used to improve the pre-hospital care for patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury.' Abbott's test was developed in collaboration with the US Department of Defense US Army Medical Research and Development Command's US Army Medical Materiel Development Activity organisation. According to the UK Government's Research and Innovation Council (UKRI), there are around 900,000 accident and emergency attendances with a head injury annually in the UK, with 160,000 people with suspected head injuries admitted to hospital each year. "Abbott launches portable concussion blood test in UK" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Person taken to hospital after crash closes A14
A major road is partially closed and one person has been taken to hospital following a three-vehicle crash. The A14 was completely shut near Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, after two cars and a van were involved in a collision on the eastbound carriageway at about 08:56 GMT on Thursday. Three ambulances, two ambulance officer vehicles and a SARS vehicle went to the scene. The East Anglian Air Ambulance landed on the westbound carriageway. The westbound carriageway has since reopened but the road remains closed eastbound, according to Suffolk Police. A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service added: "One person was taken to West Suffolk Hospital for further care." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Suffolk Police
