Mum's surprise at saving cousin's life

WHEN Wendy Rowe rushed to the aid of a man who had collapsed in church she was shocked to discover later on that he was in fact her long-lost cousin.

The 46-year-old mum was at a meeting at the Spiritualist Church, in Swansea's Oxford Road, when Mark Davies slumped into his chair. He had suffered a heart attack.

Both Mrs Rowe along with fellow church member Marian Roberts went to his aid and gave Mr Davies CPR — cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

It was only later that she discovered that they were related.

When the paramedics arrived on scene, Mrs Rowe and Mrs Roberts stayed to assist them.

Their life-saving actions led paramedic Alun Richards to nominate the pair for an award.

Wendy, a mum-of-three, from Mayhill, who works as a one-on-one special needs assistant, at Hafod Primary School, said: "Mark was sitting next to me and started to have a fit.

"People were fussing and I just said for them to leave it to me as I had done a first aid course and I told someone to dial 999 and Marian and I got him onto the floor. I quickly realised it was more than just a fit.

"His colour was terrible and his pulse was very slow so we put him on his back and I started giving him chest compressions and Marian held his head back and I could hear the ambulance switchboard on the phone saying we were doing the right thing which was reassuring.

"When the paramedic arrived he told me to keep going while he put a tube down his throat and started giving him oxygen.

"It was quite horrific but I went on a first aid course with school last year and really enjoyed it, but I didn't expect that I would have to use it in this sort of situation.

"I always wanted to do first aid and thank God I did."

She added: "I've since found out that Mark and I are cousins and after he had been in hospital he came and stayed with us for a week to recuperate and now he's looking really well."

Marian Roberts, aged 59, of Beach Road, Swansea, a longtime member of the church, added: "Wendy did a really good job while I held Mark's hand and supported his head and kept talking to him.

"We just went in and did what was necessary at the time but Wendy was great, she was in control."

Mr Davies, aged 42, of Brynymor Road, Swansea, said he was grateful for the pair's swift actions for helping to save his life.

"I really don't remember anything about it until we were arriving at Morriston Hospital but I am sure that without Wendy and Marian and Alan I wouldn't be here today," he added.

"It was marvellous what they all did and I'm very grateful — I've even found a relative I never knew I had."

Llanelli-based paramedic Mr Richards, aged 52, said the pair had proved to be real life-savers and deserved their award nomination.

"If it hadn't been for them I don't think we would have had a success," he added.

"He didn't have a pulse and his pupils were fixed and dilated but they carried on with chest compressions and between the three of us we managed to use a defibrillator on him four times to get his heart restarted.

"We eventually got a very strong heartbeat and excellent respiratory response, and an ambulance crew were soon there to take him to hospital.

"What made the difference was that these ladies were able to provide good CPR almost immediately for the patient and I told them, 'I don't know if you realise exactly what you've done but this man would never have had a chance but for you.'

"Two nights later he was sitting up in bed drinking tea and eating a sandwich."