Proud Navan dad hails family 'angels' who kept him alive after cardiac arrest

Louise Walsh

"I'm so blessed that I had two angels in my house that morning," said a lucky dad whose son and wife kept him alive after a cardiac arrest, until the paramedics arrived.

Pat Mullaney is currently recovering in hospital after the heart event from which his wife Christina was told he may not pull through.

His wife had rang the emergency services after she noticed him unwell and their son Patrick followed the CPR instructions over the phone until the paramedics arrived.

After almost three days in the intensive care unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Drogheda in which he was sedated and placed on a respirator, the 73 year old began to breath on his own, much to the relief of his family.

Pat who was the former general manager of Navan Town Centre in Co. Meath is now in Dublin's Mater Private Hospital awaiting a procedure to have a defibrillator (ICD) fitted in his chest.

His wife Christina is hailing the fast actions of paramedics and the nursing staff in Drogheda for saving her husband's life.

The near death incident occurred on Saturday morning, 17th October, just hours after Pat had been fundraising for the Trim's Men's Shed.

"Normally I wake up every morning at 8am and go downstairs to make myself a cup of tea but this morning, I came back into the room and heard a weird snore from Pat," said Christina.

"He looked terrible and didn't seem to be breathing properly. I screamed for my son Patrick and neither of us could wake him. I knew he was nearly gone.

"My hands were shaking calling 999 and the operator told me to put her on speaker as she talked Patrick through giving CPR. Patrick had received first responder training but working on his Dad was a different experience.

"He was crying as he didn't think the CPR was working.

"I was screaming for the ambulance and suddenly the operator said that they were outside. They must have only been less than ten minutes."

The paramedics used a defibrillator to stabilise Pat and took him straight to the ICU in Drogheda where medics could not guarantee that he would pull through.

"The nurses, the medics and the paramedics are incredible and they are not valued enough," added Christina.

"I'm very angry that this government is not looking after them while they give themselves bonuses. I can't thank them enough and they shouldn't have to strike to get a better wage."

Pat's long held diagnosis of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy was confirmed and he has a history of heart conditions.

He has expressed his utmost thanks to medics but believes he would have been dead if Christina and Patrick were not there.

"I'm very philosophical but I know I'm blessed that I had two angels in my house that morning. If they weren't there, I wouldn't be here. It's as simple as that.

"I had a pre-diagnosis and was waiting for a test to say I was a candidate for an ICD. I am now!

"I have no recollection of that morning. I remember nothing until Monday afternoon when I woke up in hospital surroundings.

"I am extremely grateful for all the medical help. We have a wonderful medical service and we don't realise how lucky we are until we need it. But I know I was a dead man if my son and wife weren't there in the initial moments to call the emergency services.

"As the general manager of Navan Town Centre for over 30 years, we have had many near misses from people who took ill.

"Now I'm the one who was saved."