Jac y Do musician suffers heart attack at twmpath at Llwynderw primary school
IS there a doctor in the house?
Mercifully, for one musician preparing to entertain parents at a Swansea school, there was more than one — as well as nurses, and trained first responders.
And it was their quick actions in responding to his suspected heart attack which very probably helped save his life.
Welsh folk band Jac y Do had been invited to perform at a twmpath held at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw in West Cross last Friday night.
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Children and parents were just settling down at the start of the evening, preparing to tuck into a hearty meal of traditional Welsh cawl, as the band began their sound check, moments after setting-up their gear.
But it quickly became apparent guitarist Iwan Williams was experiencing difficulties.
Fellow band member Eifion Price said: "We had been invited to perform at the school by the head teacher who is an old friend.
"We were having a bit of banter with parents in the middle of the sound check, when Iwan just collapsed in front of me.
"There was obviously something seriously wrong. One of the parents who was a doctor came forward, and realised it was very serious.
"They began to perform CPR on him until paramedics came, and he was given electric shock treatment.
"There was no doubt his heart had stopped beating a few times.
"It was like watching something out of Casualty.
"I am convinced the doctors in the school kept him alive. They did a marvellous job.
"He was taken then to the cardiac unit at Morriston Hospital.
"A few weeks ago we did a gig way out in the country, between Llandeilo and Lampeter, and if it had happened there, it would have been awful — I do not want to think about how it might have turned out. I am so grateful to the staff and doctors — they saved his life."
As the drama unfolded, parents and children were ushered into neighbouring classrooms, until Mr Williams had been taken to hospital. The school has since sent letters home to them, thanking them and the efforts of those who attended to Mr Williams.
It read: "In the face of truly dramatic and life-threatening event, you all were calm and co-operative, and then worked together as a brilliant team to get take-out food parcels for everyone, and the hall cleared. True Dunkirk spirit!"
Mr Williams, who lives in Llangunnor, Carmarthenshire, has since been sitting up in bed in hospital, and is due to undergo a bypass operation tomorrow.
Llwynderw headteacher Alun Jones also paid tribute to the response of parents, and the doctors, nurses and first responders he named as Claire Jones, Peter and Bethan Chowdhury, Susan Williams, Jane Davies and Mark James.
He said: "We are so grateful for everything they did, and to hear that Iwan is getting better."
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