02/08/2026
Clives 2nd birthday (cardiac arrest anniversary)
Strap in, its a long one.
That morning I (Kelly) had been teaching archery and clays to a couple. When I went into the office, clive was sitting at the desk, he had been sick in the bin and was a grey colour. I knew what was happening, I seen my dad have a heart attack.
I called 999, clive was giving his details, when his eyes rolled he slumped in his chair and basically checked out. I screamed on the radio for a friend (Gary) who was on site to come. I also quickly call Kirsty our daughter to come to the centre, to sort customers out. I picked clive up put him on the floor. After assessing him, I placed the defib on him..... actually it wasn't as easy as that sounded, I was shaking so much, I couldn't read the picture on the machine, nothing qas registering, I couldn't make sense of any of it. Gary was so calm, he calmed me down and explained what I needed to do, gary has bad knees and was unable to kneel down and help.
Once the defib was on, it told me to start CPR, which I did, using 1234 as my rythem. Kirsty arrived, i screamed for her to keep away, she didnt need to see this and to sort the customers out. I hadn't contacted our son, i was trying to protect him from seeing this, however, i completely forgot, he had access to our CCTV cameras. In the mist of the madness. I got Gary to get a customer (Dave) to go and wait at our top gate for the ambulance. After several minutes clive had recieved 2 shocks.
I hear the ambulance arrive, the relief was immense, they told me to continue CPR while they got stuff out, as they was asking me questions, nobody heard the defib stay stand clear, and my defib is a fully automatic machine.
I got a shock, blew me off clive, clive started to breath, the smell of burning flesh was pungent, clive, has now swallowed his tongue and the air ambulance then arrive.
The police then arrive, wanted to tape of as it may be a crime scene, as you can imagine, I was rather upset and they opted to leave the tape for the moment.
I pace in and out of the office area, my body is shaking, from the shock of the situation and the shock from the defib. I keep calling clives name, telling him to keep listening to my voice.
When Clive came round the noises he made was like nothing I have ever heard before, apparently its due to the lack of oxygen, they eventually get him on a stretcher. His eyes are open but he doesnt do or say anything.
The 2 police men agree to take me to the hospital (PC 308 & PC3119) they was a god send, it was the longest ride to derby hospital, took forever. Some moments I got extremely anxious and these two gents was truly amazing at calming me down.
When we arrived at the hospital i had to stay in the car, while they sorted clive out, I'm sure you can imagine anxiety levels was again high, Carl from the air ambulance came over to me explained they were going to take clive straight into theatre and that they are waiting for me as clive was now asking for me.
Clive, looked lost, confused, wanted to know what was happening to him, time was of the essence and they took him to theatre.
I was then booked in to AnE as I had recieved a shock from the defib. I let them do an ECG, declared myself fine and discharged and went and sat waiting for Clive with Carl and my 2 best friends Lee & Bre who have been there for us every day. While my wonderful family and kids was at the activity centre trying to keep it all together.
Many heros helped that day.
I am eternally greatful to all of those amazing people who helped me save clives life that day.
For a very long time after when people, doctors, nurses, consultants told me I had saved his life. He had a 1% survival rate and I had bought him back from being dead, I had to stop them in their tracks and put my lala ears on, i could not hear them say them words. After months and months of listening to teddy swims "bad dreams" plus "lose control" and messages to chat gpt on how I'm feeling, I can now say "I SAVED HIS LIFE" actually i can say "I'm bloody awesome, I saved his life"
There is lots more details that we have had to deal with from this story, and it affected so many people from what they saw or heard.
Moral of this story...
1. Donate to the air ambulance, link in the comments for the new summer raffle
2. Have a family defib. Research on google
3. Do you know how to do CPR, if not why not?
4. Know what your cholesterol levels are and make changes to your diet if need.
Thank you all, for your continued help and support along this chapter of our lives
The reel is a small snippet of the event. Some bits have been cut out, when clive and I recieved the shocks.
