"A life changing experience - for both of us"

I called out the emergency ambulance last September when my partner had a heart attack whilst we were out doors. We live in an isolated area, our neighbor had to wait at the top of the lane to wave the ambulance down in case they were unable to find us.

The ambulance arrived very quickly, the paramedics were both amazing. I think one paramedic was called John and the other, a driver, was a slim petite lady – there was so much going on I was too distracted to make a note of their names.

Because of my partner’s condition they needed to get him to hospital quickly and called the air ambulance out straight away. They took my partner into the ambulance to keep him warm. Whilst we were waiting for the air ambulance to arrive one of the paramedics was on the phone to Southampton General Hospital where my partner was to be taken. They were giving the hospital all the vital details so that they could prepare for my partner’s arrival and be ready to take him straight into theatre to have a stent put in.

The air ambulance crew were equally marvellous, they were all so calm and reassuring as were the staff at the hospital who rushed my partner into the theatre for an emergency, lifesaving operation. We are both very grateful for all the services provided by the NHS and how accessible they were when we so needed them.

My partner says it was a life changing experience – so much so that he proposed to me on my birthday after years of saying he would not marry me!