Thank you for saving my life

By Richard Wright

Friday, July 6, 2012

 

Thank you for saving my life

Robin Burnett, who was airlifted to hospital after suffering a heart attack last week. Picture by Robin Crossley.

THE musical director of a show — due to take place this week — owes his life to the emergency services.
Sixty-seven-year-old Robin Burnett was suffering a heart attack when he telephoned the NHS for help.
He was tested and treated at his home within minutes before being whisked to hospital by air ambulance.
“Who knows whether I’d be here now to tell the tale without such a prompt response by everyone but it all clicked into place — and I am so grateful it did,” said Mr Burnett, from Park Road, Wootton.
He started to feel unwell last Thursday and after twice fainting dialled the Island NHS 111 advice line.
Within three minutes an ambulance was at his home. Minutes later a second ambulance with specialist paramedics was there.
The air ambulance was scrambled, police cleared a landing space at Wootton Recreation Ground and Mr Burnett was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital.
“I was in Portsmouth within ten minutes and I was prepared for an operation, which took place under local anaesthetic.
“The procedure to remove a blood clot from my heart and insert a stent into the artery took place through my wrist.
“The IW NHS Trust, Hampshire and IW Air Ambulance, Hampshire Con-stabulary and the Queen Alexandra superbly co-ordinated the response and gave me individual attention.
“You hear a lot of criticism these days but I cannot praise them too highly.”
Mr Burnett was to have been musical director of a Phoenix Choir concert, featuring a wide range of popular songs at St Savour’s Church in Shanklin last night (Thursday).
He said: “It is hoped this can be re-arranged in the not-too-distant future when both I, and the Phoenix, will rise again!
“ I do apologise to the audience and the hospice for something that I had definitely not foreseen.”

Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk