Man whose heart stopped in Edinburgh vets reunited with paramedics who saved his life

A man whose heart stopped in an Edinburgh vets has been reunited with the paramedics who saved hislife.

Mike Pinkerton, 43, was shopping for cat food at Edinburgh’s Oak Tree Veterinary Surgery in Clermiston three years ago when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He lost consciousness and collapsed, prompting one of the vets at the clinic to rush to his aid.

After Henrietta Linnemann performed CPR for 20 minutes, paramedics Robin Yuill, Mark Dickson and ambulance technician Ryan Peat arrived to resuscitate him.

It took four shocks from defibrillator paddles to bring Mike back from the brink of death.

Mike, a communication manager with Edinburgh council,  thanked those who saved his life at a svici reception for St John's Scotland.

He said: "I still have absolutely no memory of what happened that morning

"It was fantastic to finally meet Ryan, Robin and Mark and thank them in person for doing such a great job – I know they’ll often never get the chance to hear from or about the people they’ve helped.”

He added: "As soon as I became aware of what had happened, I was desperate to meet Henrietta and the other staff at the vets – and we’ve stayed in touch ever since – but that wasn’t the whole story.

"I was conscious that I hadn’t ever thanked the paramedics who’d brought me back to life.

"It was good to be able to meet them and fill in a few more gaps. It was actually Robin’s first cardiac arrest so he had particular reason to remember me and my dramas.

"It was great for them – and the other brave lifesavers – to be recognised by the Lord Provost and St John Scotland at the City Chambers. It was a very special and moving evening."

Mike, along with others who have been saved by paramedics following cardiac arrests, have been raising money for defibrillators in Edinburgh.

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He has so far raised more than £9,000  out of £22,000 and you can contribute to his fundraiser .