Ann, Stuart, and Ade had never heard of LIVES before fate brought the charity and a LIVES paramedic into their lives—twice in just two weeks.
It was a typical evening for Ade and his son, Stuart. The two were watching TV, when suddenly Stuart’s complexion turned white, and he collapsed to the floor without warning.
“When I’ve dealt with other people I can stay calm – but with Stuart the book went out the window and I just panicked,” Ade said.
Despite his fear, Ade sprang into action. Initially, he thought Stuart was in cardiac arrest and began CPR. But when Stuart started to cough, Ade realized his son was having a seizure. Ann quickly dialled 999, but the stress of the situation left her unable to speak so Ade took over the call.
Relief washed over them when a local LIVES paramedic arrived. “You just breathe a sigh of relief when they show up,” Ann says. “You know you don’t have to panic anymore—someone is there who can take control.”
The paramedic provided the crucial care Stuart needed, stabilising him until an ambulance arrived. Thanks to the swift actions of his father and the immediate care from LIVES, Stuart made a full recovery and is now back to work, and has no memory of the event.
But their ordeal didn’t end there.
Just two weeks later, Ade found himself in a similar emergency. After warning Ann about the dangers of climbing a ladder, he took on the task himself—and lost his footing. He fell from a considerable height, landing hard on his left leg.
Despite the shock and the excruciating pain of a bone protruding from his leg, Ade managed to remain calm.
Once again after the 999 call, a LIVES paramedic was the first to arrive, administering pain relief and stabilising Ade’s injury until further help could arrive.
Ade spent a week in the hospital, where surgeons pinned his leg. Now home, he’s on the mend, with Ann by his side—though she’s eagerly awaiting his full recovery, as he’s the one who does all the cooking.
This double encounter with LIVES has left a profound impact on the family. Ade is now determined to become a responder for LIVES himself, driven by the desire to protect his community as they protected him and his son. Meanwhile, Ann is rallying their neighbours to fund a defibrillator for their local area, ensuring that the lifesaving support they experienced will be available to others in need.
