Family thanks paramedics who tried to save young Bolsover man who died while playing football

The family of a young Bolsover man who died after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing football have thanked the paramedics who fought to save his life.
Toms family pictured with East Midlands Ambulance paramedics.Toms family pictured with East Midlands Ambulance paramedics.
Toms family pictured with East Midlands Ambulance paramedics.

Thomas Henson, 23, was playing football in Dronfield with work colleagues when he collapsed and stopped breathing.

Despite the best efforts of his friends, community first responders, ambulance crews and the A&E team at Sheffield General Hospital, Tom sadly died due to undiagnosed congenital heart disease.

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Tom’s friends and family have already raised a staggering £19,000 in his memory which they plan to spend on defibrillators to be installed across Bolsover and surrounding areas to give other people the best chance of survival.

Tom, 23, sadly passed away while playing football.Tom, 23, sadly passed away while playing football.
Tom, 23, sadly passed away while playing football.

Explaining what happened on July 31, Tom’s mum, Nikki O’Halloran, who had been at home at the time, said: “Tom’s friend said that Tom had collapsed and someone was doing CPR on him, and then he was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

“From what I was told, the ambulance staff were incredible and did everything they could to help my son and I can’t thank them enough for this.

“I went straight to the hospital, and they were working on him for two hours after he collapsed, but unfortunately he didn’t survive.”

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Nikki, who works for Royal Mail Fleet, has raised almost £800 through collections from friends and colleagues to say thank you to Buxton Ambulance Station crews who did their best to save her son’s life.

Tom’s family have met the ambulance team who answered the call to thank them in person and present them with the cheque.

Emergency call handler Caroline Pidsley took the call from Tom’s friends, and Community First Responders Ian and Sue Towndrow from Dronfield CFR scheme were the first on scene to try to help Tom.

Paramedic Sallyanne Payne and emergency care assistant Kathryn Crain attended in an ambulance and took Tom to hospital. Derbyshire Air Ambulance also attended.

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Fred Spencer, Tom’s grandfather, explained that Tom had been a huge football fan from an early age, supporting Sheffield United and playing in local teams from the age of six.

He said: “Tom was one of the nicest lads you could ever wish to meet. He loved his football, so if he was going to go, he would have wanted to go on the field, and he did.”

If you would like to make a donation, go to www.c-r-y.org.uk/thomas-henson/