A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who collapsed in work and suffered a cardiac arrest has thanked those who saved her life.

Alwena Evans, manager of Thomas Motor Mart, Glanrafon, Denbighshire, was sat in the garage’s back office one afternoon when she began to feel ill.

One of her colleagues quickly jumped into action to perform CPR when she collapsed, while road and air ambulance teams made their way to the scene.

Mrs Evans, from Bala, said: “I went to work as normal feeling fine. It was about lunchtime when I started to feel unwell and I vomited and also started sweating.

“At first I thought it was just a bug, then I suddenly collapsed from my chair.”

Colleague Gavin Anyon dialled 999 and started to perform CPR with the guidance of Welsh Ambulance Service call handler Amanda Williams.

Paramedics from Bala Ambulance Station arrived on the scene within six minutes, followed by a member of the Uwchaled Community First Responder (CFR) team.

They confirmed Alwena was suffering a cardiac arrest and, after delivering a shock with a defibrillator, achieved a return of spontaneous circulation. However, the 65-year-old went back into cardiac arrest and required a further five shocks, as well as other lifesaving treatment.

Corwen ambulance crews were in support, along with the Wales Air Ambulance.

Together they stabilised her condition before Mrs Evans was airlifted to the North Wales Cardiac Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on the afternoon of 11 October 2017.

There she underwent an operation to have a stent fitted to improve the blood flow around her heart.

She was discharged from hospital nine days later and returned to work a week before Christmas.

Mrs Evans, who has three grandchildren, was recently reunited with the paramedics to thank them for their involvement in saving her life.

She said: “The care I received was absolutely brilliant, it was first class and I couldn’t fault what everyone did for me."

The Welsh Ambulance Service is currently running its annual Defibuary campaign, aimed at raising awareness of what a defibrillator is and where to find the closest one.

Following Mrs Evans' illness, the community is now aiming to raise £1,300 to place a public access defibrillator outside the garage.

Uwchaled CFR, who launched the fundraising, team co-ordinator Tomos Hughes said: “Alwena’s story shows the importance of early CPR and defibrillation when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

“Every second counts in a medical emergency, and by placing a defibrillator in the community we’ll be closing the gap in those available to the public to provide immediate lifesaving care in the minutes before an ambulance arrives.”

You can make a donation towards the new defibrillator by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageUrl=AlwenaEvans