A LULSEY man has thanked paramedics for saving his life when he collapsed at an ambulance charity launch.
Paul Leopold attended the Ambulance Services Charity (TASC) event at its Coventry head offices when he fainted during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Half of the guests were trained paramedics and one attendee was a doctor so he was given immediate treatment and was put into the brand new ambulance that was on site.
The 70-year-old was then transfered into an active ambulance and taken to the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire where he was treated and released and is making a full recovery.
Paul said: “It was probably one of the best places in the UK to fall ill.
“At first I wasn’t completely unconscious, I was semi-conscious and could sense people around me, hear voices and feel that I was being moved. Everyone was brilliant. I know that I am slightly biased but no one could have asked for better treatment, care and consideration.
“Having worked in the emergency services for many years, I was very proud of the response I received as a patient. It is something I have come to recognise as the norm and couldn’t have been more pleased with their expertise and the compassionate manner in which they responded.
“I have huge confidence that if something even more serious had happened I was in the very best of hands.”
Mr Leopold was part of the Metropolitan and West Midlands Police forces for more than 40 years and since retiring has been appointed the vice chairman of TASC and chairman of the Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund (ASBF).
Jean Hayes, director of support services at The Ambulance Services Charity, said: “We are extremely pleased Paul has made a full recovery after giving us quite a scare at the launch event.
“Paul really couldn’t have been in more capable hands.”
