Wyberton linedancer's praise after cardiac arrest at fete

David Kirk (68) was airlifted to hospital after treatment by paramedics when he fell ill at Spalding Primary School’s annual fundraising event for its pupils two weeks ago.

The drama unfolded after David took part in a linedancing demonstration at the school’s summer fete in Woolram Wygate where he suddenly felt “warm and sweaty”.

David, who has two daughters and four grandchildren, said: “There were ten of us doing the linedancing demonstration made up of five dances.

“At the end of the fourth dance, I felt a little bit light-headed and I went to sit down.

“Then I started to feel like I had a stomach ache which was when I felt on the warm and funny side.

“So my daughter went to see if there was a first aider about and one of the parents said she was and asked me how did I feel.”

An ambulance was then called for David, of Wyberton Low Road, by a police officer, while the first aider stayed with David until one arrived.

David said: “My wife was in the linedancing demonstration when it happened and when the group was deciding whether to do its second set of dances later that afternoon, Muriel said ‘carry on with it because that’s what David would have wanted’.

“So they did while the first aider stayed with me until I went to hospital in the ambucopter.

“The first aider was very nice in that she was talking to me all the time, keeping me calm and telling me what to do and what the LIVES First Responders were doing when they were with me.

“One chap said ‘you’ve got the full crowd, with LIVES First Responders, an ambulance and an ambucopter’”.

David was airlifted to Lincoln County Hospital where he had three stems fitted to his heart, with three stents fitted, which allowed his heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.

“When I arrived at the hospital, they were unsure what had caused me to feel dizzy and unwell,” David said.

“But when they found out it was a cardiac arrest, they recommended that I should have an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator for abnormal heart rhythms) fitted.

“So I went to Nottingham City Hospital on Sunday night to have the ICD fitted and the doctors have advised me to give it a month before I can carry on with the linedancing.

“What can you say when someone has saved your life, except to thank them for what was a nice outcome.”

Sarah Walker, chairman of Spalding Primary School’s parent teacher association (PTA) which organised the fete, said: “David was given CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) by one of our PTA committee, a mother who is also a trained first aider.

“If it wasn’t for her and the police who were on the scene and were able to assist, it could have been worse.

“Out of the funds raised, we’ll buy a defibrillator for the school and make a donation to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.”

Parents know best as Spalding school fete shines brightly

Parent saves life of linedancer at Spalding fundraising fete