Tube passenger saved by bystanders and paramedics meets heroes who rescued him

A tube passenger has expressed his gratitude to the paramedics and bystanders who saved his life after he went into cardiac arrest at Liverpool Street Station in central London.

Members of the public stopped to perform chest compressions and used the station’s defibrillator before ambulance clinicians arrived on scene.

Paul Benson, 67, from Barnet, is now backing the London Ambulance Charity’s pioneering Heart Starters campaign which will work with local communities to fund additional defibrillators for the most deprived areas of the capital.

Paul was reunited with the paramedics who saved his life at London Lifesaver training for London Assembly Members at the station earlier this week.

Early use of a defibrillator and chest compressions can more than double a person’s chance of survival. Every second counts when their heart stops beating and pumping oxygen around the body.

Paul said: “It’s important that Londoners aren’t frightened to stop and help. It’s very easy to walk past but those who step in can save lives.

“They can’t make it any worse but they can certainly make it better. Thanks to their help I’ve been able to carry on with my life.”

Paul collapsed in the pedestrian tunnel at Liverpool Street Station as he and his wife Lorraine, 59, were on their way to catch the Elizabeth Line.

Luckily an off-duty nurse, doctor and pharmacist were nearby and started chest compressions immediately while someone ran to find the defibrillator at the station. They restarted his heart using the life-saving device.

Paul added: “I was in very good hands and my good Samaritans kept me alive until the paramedics arrived. Without a defibrillator I wouldn’t be here.”

Paul was then taken by London Ambulance Service paramedics to the nearest Heart Attack Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital where he had bypass surgery.

Paramedic Jackson Day, one of the ambulance crews who treated Paul on scene, said: “It was great to meet Paul and see such a positive outcome for him.

“I’ve worked at London Ambulance Service for nearly seven years and this was my first time meeting someone I’ve treated who suffered a cardiac arrest. It was a really special moment.”

Mark Faulkner, Consultant Paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said: “Paul is very lucky to have survived thanks to the swift actions of bystanders. Sadly we don’t know who they are but we are immensely thankful for their efforts.

“Anyone can learn to do chest compressions and you do not need any specific training to use a defibrillator. It is these skills which saved Paul’s life.”

Paul is now making a good a good recovery. He said: “I’d love to say thank you to those members of the public who stopped to save my life. If you’re one of these people please get in touch with the London Ambulance Service first responders team.”

Analysis by the London Ambulance Service has revealed that dozens of neighbourhoods are ‘defibrillator deserts’ – where there is little or no access to a life saving device.

The data has revealed large discrepancies between communities in outcomes for cardiac arrest and the availability of life-saving devices.

Chair of the London Assembly Health Committee, Krupesh Hirani AM, said: “The London Assembly Health Committee visit to Liverpool Street Station showed in graphic reality how important anyone can be in those first few minutes after a cardiac arrest. Saving a life sounds like a big deal – but it’s surprisingly straight forward.

“The Committee recognises the necessity of improving out of hospital cardiac arrest survival by equipping Londoners with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to act in the vital few minutes before an ambulance arrives.

“Meeting Paul, who owes his life to the passing public and London Ambulance Service crews, was a very humbling experience. The fine work of the LAS to raise awareness of how imperative CPR skills and defibrillator use are, is to be congratulated.”

Naomi Smith, Head of Customer Operations at Transport for London, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with the Mayor and our colleagues at London Ambulance Service to support this vital life-saving initiative.

“We know every second counts when saving a life, so we are pleased that as well as having first-aid trained staff at stations, our customers will have quick access to a defibrillator across the Tube and Overground.”

Help us raise money for our life-saving Heart Starters campaign on our dedicated London Ambulance Charity website here.