Teacher thanks medics for helping to save her life at emotional reunion

A teacher struck down by a rare and life-threatening condition has met some of the paramedics who helped save her life at an emotional reunion.

Polly Abrey, 50, who lives in Croydon, south London, with her husband Stuart and two daughters, Sophie, 18, and Phoebe, 15, thanked the paramedics who came to her rescue when she became unwell at home.

Her life was left in jeopardy in November 2023 after she became seriously poorly as a result of a tear in her aorta, the large artery in the heart which carries blood around the body.

A number of London Ambulance Service crews were quickly sent to the mother-of-two after Stuart called 999.

Polly’s blood pressure, oxygen levels and other crucial observations were dangerously low.

Helena Bolton, a paramedic of 23 years, said:  “They were the lowest I’ve ever seen on a person that’s still alive”.

Polly’s condition and medical history pointed to sepsis, so the crews attempted to stabilise her and take her to hospital as quickly as possible.

Once at Croydon University Hospital, Polly underwent several scans and tests before she was diagnosed with a tear in her aorta, which was likely the result of a pre-existing weakness of her aortic wall. She was transferred to specialist heart and cancer centre St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Husband Stuart said: “At the hospital someone came out, sat me down and explained that it did not look good and said ‘we’re probably going to lose her’. That’s when I fainted.”

Thankfully Polly made it through the surgery and the family were told she would likely be in a coma for a few days. In total, however, she was in a coma for almost three weeks.

When she finally regained consciousness, Polly had lost a lot of her mobility and it’s been a slow road to recovery, but she is doing much better now.

The couple said meeting Emergency Medical Technician Luc Allsop and paramedic Helena, who were part of the team dispatched to help save Polly, was an emotional experience for them.

Polly said: “I don’t remember huge amounts from my time in hospital but I do have strong memories and flashes from the day it all happened. I remember how reassuring the paramedics were and I’m so grateful for that.”

Police officer Stuart said: “I know from my own job that often the work paramedics do can go unrecognised.

“From our family’s point of view, thank you will never be enough. We could easily be having a very different conversation if things hadn’t worked out. Thankfully due to your expertise and critical care – she’s still here and that’s the best thing we could ever have hoped for.”