Quick-thinking theatre staff save man's life after medical drama

  • Wales
John with the theatre staff and paramedic who saved him. Credit: Welsh Ambulance Service

A theatre manager staged a real-life drama, by saving the life of a retired postman collapsed in the lobby.Duty manager Jamie Marshall, 33, was working her final shift when John Higgins, 79, walked into the theatre.Mr Higgins collapsed just moments later - and Jamie used their defibrillator to restart his heart.He finally started breathing again 90 seconds later before paramedics arrived at the Riverfront Theatre in Newport.

Quick-thinking staff at the Riverfront Theatre have been praised for saving John's life. Credit: Google Maps

Widower Mr Higgins is now recovering at home and has thanked staff for their life-saving skills.He added: “Everybody there was fantastic and has given me a second chance and more time to spend with my daughter who has recently returned from living abroad.”Mum-of-two Jamie, from Usk, was the first aider on site at the time and quickly used the defibrillator to shock Mr Higgins before starting CPR.She said: “I’d been at the theatre for 17 years and it was my very last shift before leaving for a new role.“I performed CPR for around a minute and a half when John started breathing again and came round.“He started asking me if I was okay and what I had done to him.”

On scene within six minutes of the updated emergency call was Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic and Duty Operations Manager for Newport, Rob Nihan, who attended in a rapid response vehicle.Paramedic Rob said: “This really does highlight the importance of all employers having a trained first aider and defibrillator on their premises as you never know when it may be needed to save a life."