Merton Police Save Man's Life With New Defibrillator

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Family think actions of the police and new equipment saved Ray's life

Merton PCs Philippa Knight and Gemma Dobson helped save the life of a heart attack victim in a Morden street, with the help a new transportable defibrillator.

The police had taken a call from the London Ambulance Service asking to assist a man who had collapsed on Salcombe Road in Morden on December 22.

The officers arrived on the scene to find 59-year-old Ray Willoughby unresponsive on the floor.

PC Knight started performing CPR on Mr Willoughby whilst PC Dobson prepared the transportable defibrillator, a new piece of equipment that the Met has been rolling out across London.

On the third attempt, Mr Willoughby temporarily regained consciousness. He then stopped breathing again and lost consciousness as an ambulance arrived on the scene.

The paramedics said it was one of the most complicated cardiac arrests that they had ever seen.

Mr Willoughby’s daughter, said: "We were told by the paramedics who assisted, that police cars have only recently started carrying defibrillators. Without this equipment, his life would not have been saved. I know it was the first time either police officer has had to use the defibrillator and under the circumstances they did an outstanding job.

“Without the help of these two officers using the defibrillator, my dad would definitely not be here, which to me is a huge thing as he mean the absolute world to me.

"Without doing what they did, my dad wouldn't have got the chance to meet this granddaughter."

The officers visited Mr Willoughby the next day in hospital, before their shift.

PCs Knight and Dobson, added: "We are over the moon that our new piece of equipment saved Ray’s life and enabled him to spend Christmas with his family and meet his new granddaughter. We did what any member of the police family would have done."

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January 8, 2018