Dancing pensioner owes life to daughter's CPR skills after cardiac arrest

A man who danced with his wife every week for 63 years until he suffered a cardiac arrest is determined to take to the dancefloor again after his daughter helped save his life with vital CPR.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2018, 18:50 BST
Updated 31st Jul 2018, 18:53 BST
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Waklin, support worker Kelly Ashley, childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived and paramedicsCardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Waklin, support worker Kelly Ashley, childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived and paramedics
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Waklin, support worker Kelly Ashley, childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived and paramedics

Sprightly 89-year-old Alan Moore of Ravenshead collapsed in front of his wife Pamela during their weekly dance class at All Saints Church in Huthwaite.

They were there with Alan’s daughter Joanne Waklin who leapt into action, dialing 999 and then started CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

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Joanne said she had been watching her parents dancing when she saw her father collapse.

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Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, Daughter Joanne Wakelin and grandson Luke WakelinCardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, Daughter Joanne Wakelin and grandson Luke Wakelin
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, Daughter Joanne Wakelin and grandson Luke Wakelin

Joanne said; “It was a big shock for everyone - I wasn’t far from him when he went down - his eyes were rolling and his ears were going blue.

“I just rang 999 and started CPR”

She continued under instruction from call handler Lisa Corner,

Family support worker Kelly Ashley and Surestart worker Mark Hoyland who work at the centre also came to Alan’s aid supporting Joanne with CPR until ambulance crews arrived six minutes later.

Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Wakelin. Grandson Luke Wakelinsupport worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland and paramedicsCardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Wakelin. Grandson Luke Wakelinsupport worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland and paramedics
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela, daughter Joanne Wakelin. Grandson Luke Wakelinsupport worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland and paramedics
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Rachel Allee, clinical operations manager and one of the paramedics who attended said; “This is an excellent example of the importance of knowing CPR - it is a vital skill which we encourage everyone to learn as it can save lives.

“Seconds count during a cardiac arrest so performing effective CPR as soon as possible keeps oxygen flowing around the body and gives the patient a better chance of survival.”

Ambulance crews Edward Cannon, Rachel Allee, Gillian Woodward and Jason Glover provided advanced medical intervention with a defibrillator to save Alan’s life and took him to King’s Mill Hospital for further treatment.

Since the incident in November Alan has been recovering well with the help of physiotherapists and the support of his family and he is determined to dance again.

Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrivedCardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived
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The father of two and grandad of six returned to his class where he was reunited with the whole team who saved his life and ensured he can look forward to celebrating his 90th birthday in two weeks.

He told your Chad he had no memory at all of his rescue.

He said: “I was with the dance teacher and the last thing I remember was she was trying to show me how to use my shoulders and I must have collapsed.

Alan says he owes his life to his daughter’s life saving skills and the team who brought him back from the brink.

Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrivedCardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived
Cardiac arrest survivor Alan Moore is reunited with paramedics and bystanders who saved his life when he collapsed at a dance class, Alan is Pictured with his wife Pamela support worker Kelly Ashley and childrenâ¬"s Centre co-ordinator Mark Hoyland who performed CPR before the paramedics arrived

“Without them I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

“My daughter has been there for me all my life it makes me feel very proud of her.”

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He added: “I want to get mobile again go to the gym and if I can, get back to my dancing.

He said he would love to “whisk Pam off her feet”again if he makes a full recovery.

Wife Pamela said: “ I can’t put it into words - it was incredible.

“The dance teacher had been trying to show him how to move his shoulders and asked him if he wanted to dance . The next minute he fell backwards.

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“Joanne was writing a birthday card she got up and shouted immediately get an ambulance then started CPR.

“I didn’t realise he had had a cardiac arrest.

“The people working here came to help and the ambulance and after 10 minutes he was breathing again.”

“I can’t believe how calm Joanne was the whole thing ran like clockwork. Because of her actions we still have Alan here today.”

Joanne said she had done CPR years ago at work and just finished a emergency first aid course at Mansfield Library. She said: “I think it’s important to know what to do - I never thought I would be using it on dad.”

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East Midlands Ambulance Service Bravery awards were presented to his rescuers Joanne, Kelly Ashley and Mark Hoyland for their quick thinking in giving chest compressions and rescue breaths to Alan after he collapsed.

Guidance on how to do CPR is available on the British Heart Foundation’s website: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/how-to-do-cpr

Related topics:CPR