'I wouldn't be here' without volunteer doctors

Gillian Kirkman thanks BASICS for saving her life

A woman who needed urgent medical attention said she "wouldn't be here" without the help of volunteer doctors in Devon.

Gillian Kirkman, 60, from Newton Abbot, suffered a cardiac arrest on 17 October 2018 and was saved by a volunteer doctor from the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) Devon.

"BASICS Devon didn't just save my life, they actually gave me a chance to have a really full life again," Mrs Kirkman said.

The charity has 15 responding members across the county, including in Holsworthy, Ashburton, Plymouth, South Hams and Honiton.

Seven years after the incident, BASICS Devon has released a short film recalling Mrs Kirkman's experience.

She said she had little memory of the incident, but said: "I know I was incredibly fortunate."

Mrs Kirkman said at the time of the cardiac arrest a young man with learning disabilities was living with her and her husband Ian.

"He was very, very observant," she said.

Mrs Kirkman added: "He noticed that something had changed about my breathing... he woke Ian up."

She said the pair realised she had gone into cardiac arrest and began CPR immediately.

Mrs Kirkman said an ambulance was called straight away and an alert was sent to BASICS Devon.

"They came straight down to me which meant that I had immediate medical care," she added.

"They're all volunteers and without their support I know I wouldn't be here."

Advanced clinical practitioner Glenda Cooper said volunteer doctors at the charity "give up their own time and drive their own vehicles to attend these incidents".

"They are able to respond... lives get saved in the local community," she said.

Ms Cooper said BASICS Devon doctors were different to first responders.

"First responders are there to deliver the immediate basic life support," she said.

"BASICS are skilled, medical, trained personnel that come out to give that advanced, enhanced care.

"It could be something more complex, in a major trauma they can give additional medication or intervention procedures that the paramedics can't do."