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A West Lothian woman has thanked hero paramedics after the 'worst day of her life' when her husband suddenly collapsed at home.
Nicola Beveridge and her husband Calum were getting ready to leave the house on March 29 when Nicola realised she had lost something as the couple started searching their bedroom.
While Calum was on his hands and knees he started making a "strange noise" as Nicola turned and asked what he was doing. The 35-year-old then realised her husband's lips were blue and he couldn't breathe.
Calum, also 35, had gone into cardiac arrest while stuck between two pieces of furniture as Nicola frantically dialled 999 and opened her bedroom window to shout for help.
She eventually managed to get him on his front and started chest compressions while on the phone to the Scottish Ambulance Service call handler. Neighbours also heard the commotion and ran in to help.
Recalling the terrifying moment, which Nicola described as the worst day of her life, she told how she looked at Calum and did not think he was going to make it, as two ambulances rushed to the scene.
Nicola continued compressions for around 13 minutes before the first crew arrived on scene as she sat downstairs waiting for news.
Fortunately, they managed to stabilise Calum and he was rushed to St John's Hospital in Livingston. With Calum now back at work, doctors still have no idea what caused the cardiac arrest. The pair also visited the two crew members who were first on scene, Toni and Jake, to thank them in person for saving Calum's life.
Nicola and Calum tied the knot last year.
(Image: Paul Govers)
"It was just a normal Saturday and we were getting ready to leave around lunchtime when I realised I had lost something so we started searching the bedroom," said Nicola.
"He was looking under the bed while talking to me and I heard a really weird noise. I was like 'what are you doing' and then I felt like something was really wrong and phoned 999.
"The girl answered the phone and I managed to turn him around to see his face and I just knew it wasn't good. His lips were blue and he really didn't look good.
"The girl said I had to start performing CPR and started talking me through it but the way he had fallen he trapped himself between two bits of furniture - he clearly wanted to put me to the test."
Nicola opened her bedroom window and shouted for help before turning him around and performing CPR. A nearby ambulance crew arrived around ten minutes later and a special operations team was dispatched from Newbridge.
Calum and Nicola with Toni and Jake, the crew members who were first to arrive at the scene.
(Image: Scottish Ambulance Service)
Nicola was asked to leave the crews to it and was quizzed about Calum's health as they tried to find out a possible cause. However, the IT program director has completed 12 marathons and regularly runs 10km to keep himself in shape.
Once Calum was stabilised he was transported to hospital and spent five days there before being transferred to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he spent his 35th birthday.
Nicola, a secondary school teacher, added: "We have no idea why it happened. He has an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) fitted and he's now back living his life as if nothing happened.
"I struggled to get through to his mum and dad while I was downstairs as they weren't answering and when I did I remember telling them 'you have to get here'.
"I remember looking at him and really wasn't sure if he'd make it. I thought that was it and was preparing myself for someone telling me.
"We're now super keen to raise some funds for a defibrillator near the gym we use and we'd also like to raise awareness about CPR. Hands down the consultants and paramedics saved his life but if you ask the ambulance crew they will say it was me.
"I just dread to think what would have happened if I wasn't in the room or arrived ten minutes later. I think they saved him and they think it was me so we want to let people know how important learning CPR is.
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"People keep asking how did I know what to do but I literally didn't. The girl talked me through it on the phone and it was really traumatising as I wasn't completely sure where to put my hands so if you practice it once or twice it would at least give you an idea you're doing the right thing."
When Calum was taken to hospital Nicola was told he would be in a medically induced coma for three days to allow his body to recover. However, the following day he woke himself up and suffered another cardiac arrest.
He was given another round of CPR in hospital and Nicola was told he would be sedated for a further 48 hours.
"I was phoning the ward every hour and when I phoned that night they told me he was sitting up eating his Cheerios," Nicola joked.
"I was like 'sorry what' and they said he woke up again as he just wasn't for being sedated. We got over to St John's and they were just of the opinion he was fine. He was looking at me confused as if to say 'why am I here'.
"I call him a miracle man and he is really fortunate. He has no internal damage, brain damage or memory loss.
"He would agree it has been worse on me than him as he has just woken up, ate his cereal and wondered what all the fuss was about."
Nicola gave a special mention to all the medical staff who helped her and Calum during his spell in hospital as she was given updates and number to call by the ambulance crew for people who have had to carry out CPR.
The ambulance service also tracked down the call handler who kept Nicola calm, Emma Rocks, to pass on her gratitude.
The couple also visited Toni and Jake at their Livingston station to say thanks. The four of them posed for a photo which was uploaded to Facebook by the ambulance service.
They wrote: "A man who had a cardiac arrest at home has been reunited with two of the emergency responders who saved his life.
"Calum and Nicola Beveridge recently stopped by Livingston Ambulance Station to say thanks to Jake Scobie and Toni Gunn. Nicola also gave vital CPR before SAS arrived, with the assistance of a call taker. SORT also attended the incident.
"The couple also presented Jake and Toni with chocolates and a thank you card each to say thanks."