Daughter says thanks to father's life-savers

The daughter of a man who suffered a heart attack in Sconce and Devon Park expressed her gratitude to the Newark park runners who helped save his life.

Mr Michael Jones, 69, of Sleaford, was about to take part in the Newark Parkrun of May 19 when he collapsed during the warm-up.

Four Newark park runners, who work for the NHS, performed CPR and used a defibrillator to restart his heart.

He was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, by Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

At last weekend’s Parkrun, Michael’s daughter, Mrs Vicky Ambery, her husband, William, and their two children, Harry, 7, and Martha, 4, thanked all those involved.

Vicky, of Desborough, addressed the runners before the start of the 5km event.

“He is recovering well in hospital and will, in the coming days, have a device fitted that will enable him to resume his life and all the activities he enjoys, including Parkrun, as before,” she said.

“Had it not been for the Parkrun and its fantastic people it could have been a different story.

“The staff at the hospital made it quite clear that the action of those who performed CPR and used the defibrillator saved him.”

She also read out a message written by her father to the 229 runners.

“Thank you to all those who did the greatest thing possible in maintaining my life,” it read.

“I look forward to coming over to see you all as soon as possible to thank you in person.

“We know as a family we have been very lucky. Thank you all so much.”

Mr Paul Reed, chairman of the Friends of Sconce and Devon Park, said the incident showed the value of the defibrillator, which was installed at the park in March 2015.