Heart attack survivor praises air ambulance

Derek Carruthers, his wife Bridget Carruthers and Terry Sharpe Credit: GNAAS

A heart attack survivor has shared his story, thanking emergency services, after he was flown to the hospital.

64-year-old Derrek Carruthers, from Kirkoswald, was playing golf in Penrith when he had the heart attack in May 2013.

The retired sales executive, who was then taking part in Penrith Golf CLub's Inglewood Cup, describes the pain as “someone sticking a corkscrew in your chest and turning it tighter.”

The grandfather of one was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for surgery.

David Carruthers and his 66-year-old wife, Bridget, visited Great North Air Ambulance's Langwathby airbase to thanks the air crew, including paramedic Terry Sharpe, who assisted him.

Derek Carruthers and Terry Sharpe Credit: GNAAS

Mr Carruthers has remained active, plays golf, skies and attends the gym twice a week.He also works as a support driver on charity rides from London to Paris with Maximum Adventure and Rather Be Cycling.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary of becoming an independent registered charity.