A father from County Durham helped save his own life by recognising the early signs of a heart attack and calling 999. Gary Pendleton, 66, from Shotley Bridge near Consett, fell ill after returning home from a gym session.
Despite being physically active, Pendleton realised something was wrong when he began feeling hot and sweaty, though he had no chest pain. Home alone, he called for an ambulance.
Pendleton said: "I was feeling hot, sweaty and increasingly unwell. I tried ringing my partner and my son but couldn't get hold of them, so I sent them both a text saying I thought I was having a heart attack."
During the call, his condition worsened, making it difficult to speak. He managed to provide his address and medical details before ending the call.
Paramedic Annie O'Sullivan and ambulance support practitioner Paul Arkle rushed to his home and began assessment. Pendleton recalled: "The crew immediately applied the pads for a heart monitor and said I needed taking to hospital immediately. They were totally professional throughout which was really reassuring."
O'Sullivan applied defibrillator pads as a precaution, anticipating his condition could deteriorate. As the ambulance approached the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, Pendleton went into cardiac arrest.
Understanding Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, starving the heart muscle of oxygen. Symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and feeling unwell, but as in Pendleton's case, symptoms are not always typical.
A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, causing collapse and cessation of normal breathing. Without immediate treatment, it is fatal within minutes.
Rapid Treatment Saves Life
O'Sullivan said: "When I attended Gary, he was acutely unwell and suffering a heart attack that was continuing to develop during the journey to hospital, which is why I applied the defibrillator pads as a precaution. It was vital that we got him to the Freeman Hospital as quickly as possible."
Pendleton was taken straight into theatre, where doctors fitted a stent to unblock an artery. The entire process from symptom onset to treatment took less than two and a half hours. After 48 hours in hospital, he completed a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation programme and eventually returned to the gym.
Now back enjoying retirement, motorbiking, and staying active, Pendleton wanted to personally thank the crew. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) organised a reunion with the staff who saved his life.
Pendleton said: "Annie's forethought of applying the defib pads beforehand might well have been those few seconds that made all the difference. Looking back I'm glad to still be around. It's the small things that make all the difference. Without NEAS I certainly wouldn't be here."
O'Sullivan commented: "It's been really special to be reunited with Gary because we don't often get the chance to hear what happens to patients after we leave them, particularly when they've gone on to make such a good recovery. His story highlights just how important it is to seek medical attention if you're experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath."
Arkle added: "We don't often get the chance to meet patients again after an incident, particularly more than a year later, so it was really nice to hear how well Gary has recovered. Seeing him back enjoying life and doing the things he loves is exactly why we do this job."
In 2025/2026, NEAS attended 830 patients identified as having a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a serious type of heart attack caused by complete blockage of a coronary artery. However, this does not represent the total number of heart attacks attended. While STEMIs can often be identified at the scene using an electrocardiogram (ECG), many other types can only be confirmed in hospital. Early recognition and rapid treatment remain vital.
