Leatherhead leisure centre workers save man having cardiac arrest

Two leisure centre staff have been hailed as heroes after saving the life of a customer who was having a cardiac arrest.

Leatherhead Leisure Centre employees Stuart Campbell and Kaine Bassett performed CPR and used a defibrillator on 57-year-old Colin Deer to resuscitate him before the emergency services arrived.

Mr Deer had left the Surrey centre on 24 November after a gym session and decided to return for medical assistance after sitting in his car for about 10 minutes feeling unwell.

“I owe my life to Stuart and Kaine thanks to their swift and decisive actions,” he said. “I am deeply grateful to them both and to all the other staff at Leatherhead Leisure Centre who helped on the day.”

Mr Campbell, who attends monthly CPR training, said, ” It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my actions – and those of my colleague, Kaine Bassett – helped save his life.”

The leisure centre team had quickly realised Mr Deer was suffering from a heart problem upon his return, but he went into cardiac arrest before the ambulance arrived.

“Mr Deer’s decision not only saved his own life, but potentially prevented a major incident had he decided to drive home,” said Darren Pope, the centre’s general manager.

Emergency services arrived within six minutes and took over treatment, administering two further shocks before transferring Mr Deer to the hospital where he is now recovering.