A parent’s nightmare

16 September 2006.

A father who saved his daughter’s life says that first aid training from St John Ambulance prevented what could have been a tragedy.

Gareth Bloomfield had taken his two daughters to a local park in Winchester, when disaster struck. Four-year-old Molly was playing on the swings, when she fell off at a height of around five feet and landed with a big thump onto the ground.

Believing her to be winded by the experience, Mr Bloomfield picked her up. However, he realised Molly had stopped breathing, had become rigid and her eyes had rolled to the back of her head.

Molly then lost consciousness and went limp. She dramatically lost all colour and her dad was unable to detect a heart beat.

Remembering years of first aid training as a young cadet at Winchester’s St John Ambulance, Gareth checked Molly’s airway, and then gently resuscitated the little four-year-old back to life.

“Don’t get me wrong” said Gareth, “I was very, very frightened I would lose Molly, or that she would suffer permanent back or brain damage. First aid training is the best thing any of us can do. Having to revive your own child is a parent’s nightmare, but better that than watching helplessly.”

“Once I had got her breathing again and contacted the emergency services on my mobile, the ambulance crew were great, as were the team up at Royal County Hospital. To look at Molly now - you would think she has new batteries!