Quick CPR made ‘all the difference’ to grateful Enfield man and family
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Matthew Reynolds pictured with one of the first responders Jane McSherry who attended the scene when the Enfield man suffered a cardiac arrest.Image 2 of 6
Matthew Reynolds and his sister Fiona Nolan leading the run in aid of the local first responders who saved Matthew’s life.. Photo by: Rosemary CumminsImage 3 of 6
Members of the South Meath Vintage Club on the run. Photo: Michael Relihan.Image 4 of 6
Thannendran Karmaygan, Jane McSherry and Cliona O’Donovan from responders delighted to receive cheque for €7,500 from Michael Cummins, Peter Holton and Matt Reynolds from South Meath Vintage club. Photo: Ian Scully.Image 5 of 6
Mark McSherry with Matt Reynolds. More photos from presentation night next week.Image 6 of 6
Jane McSherry from responders thanks everyone for their amazing work.The sister of an Enfield man who suffered a shock cardiac arrest while driving his car in Trim has praised first responders who came on the scene within minutes and saved his life.
The 18th November started out as a normal day for Matthew Reynolds (40) who headed into his jeep to go to meet a friend who needed help with a job but life changed forever when his heart stopped beating.
Luckily, Matthew's nephew, Christopher was in the passenger seat and stopped the car bringing it to safety before calling the emergency services.
Thanks to a resident in a nearby house and a passing motorist and a member of Trim Fire Brigade who arrive performing CPR on Matthew together with the assistance of the Dr Brody Braveheart Community First Responders Group (DBBCFRG) in Trim the Enfield man survived and has made a full recovery.
As a token of gratitude, Matthew set the wheels in motion to organise a charity tractor run with the help of South Meath Vintage Club that took place in Rathcore on 23rd March with over 7,000 raised for the Dr Brody Braveheart Community First Responders Group (DBBCFRG) in Trim and the Enfield/Baconstown CFR group.
“Matthew was just out driving and had a cardiac arrest and the first responders got to him in eight minutes, they came with defibrillators and saved his life and he wanted to give something back to those people,” said Matthew's sister Fiona Nolan.
“106 tractors turned up on the day of the fundraiser, we got fantastic support with €7,500 raised to be split between the two groups,” she added.
Explaining what happened on the fateful day last year, Fiona said:
“Back in November Matthew was out doing a job for a friend when he took a cardiac arrest with no warning. It was completely out of the blue, he had no aches or pains. My son was with him and had to bring the jeep to a stop and get it to the side of the road to a safe place and called for help straight away.
“There was a man in his garden next door who saw there was something serious going on, he came out to him and did CPR. Another guy came along that worked with Trim Fire Brigade and he took over for another four minutes before the first responders arrived. They came after eight minutes and they shocked him three times and got him back breathing again.”
Medics told Matthew's family that the quick thinking from those first on the scene and later the paramedics saved his life.
“Matthew has no recollection of any of it, he just remembers waking up in the Mater Hospital, said Fiona.
“The hospital told us that the fact that help was available so quickly to him and CPR was performed so quickly is what made all the difference,” she added.
“When I got there the ambulance crew were working hell for leather on him, they spent around an hour and a half on him at the side of the road to make sure it was safe to bring him in an ambulance.
“He made a full recovery thank god and he just wanted to give something back.
“We were blown away by the support on the day and from everyone wishing Matthew well.”