Swimmer turns life-saver at pool

0:00am Fri Sep 18, 2009

Fast action by a man trained to use a defibrillator saved a fellow swimmer who suffered a heart attack.

Mr John Parlatt was in the pool at Southwell Leisure Centre when Mr Paul Smith was taken ill during an over-50s’ session.

Lifeguards got Mr Smith out of the water and helped Mr Parlatt, a member of Southwell Defibrillator Group, to resuscitate him.

Mr Parlatt (56) of Crafts Way, Southwell, said: “I realised the man was blue around the lips and wasn’t breathing so I started CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and asked one of the lifeguards to phone for an ambulance and get the leisure centre’s defibrillator, while I got another of the lifeguards to hold back the man’s head to keep his airway clear.”

Mr Parlatt used the defibrillator to shock Mr Smith’s heart.

Mr Parlatt said: “The man started gurgling a little but a few seconds later he stopped breathing again so we continued with resuscitation.

“Thankfully he came round so we put him in the recovery position.”

Mr Smith (51) of Springfield Road, was taken to Lincoln County Hospital by air ambulance and was allowed home on Wednesday.

His sister, Mrs Jean Dodsworth, of Arnold Avenue, said he remembered little about the incident.

She said: “He had just done one length when he thought there was a lot of splashing around him, which he now realises was him, and the next thing he remembers is being on the side of the pool.

“He said he was so grateful that the people in the pool at the time acted so quickly and the person who administered the defibrillator obviously knew what he was doing. He really was a life-saver.

“If this had happened when my brother was out walking he wouldn’t be here so I cannot thank the people at the pool enough.”

Mr Parlatt, who helped to found the defibrillator group about five years ago, said: “It was a great outcome because he survived and is recovering.

“I don’t think you can ever get used to attending incidents like this because every person and situation is different.

“I would like to praise the boys from the leisure centre because they really were very alert to see the man in difficulty.”

Mr Parlatt said the defibrillator group was looking for more members.

He said: “We have about a dozen members and we are on call from 8am to 10pm every day of the year and the fire service cover overnight.”

A spokesman for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance said: “The paramedics said all credit goes to the people at the swimming pool for saving this gentleman’s life.”

Anyone interested in joining the group should call Mr Mario Stankovic on 01636 814494.