Phil’s Story

I consider myself very fortunate that luck was on my side that day. Every day is now a bonus.

Philip Dunkley

On the 24 April 2013 Philip Dunkley was visiting Kilworth Springs Club for a golf match, when in a split second it became a day him and his family would never forget.

Phil was approaching the 16^th green and hit his shot which veered off and went over the bank onto the 17^th fairway. He took his cart up the bank to the 17^th hole while his teammates continued with their shots on the 16^th.

Realising Phil hadn’t returned, he was then found lying in the long grass unconscious and not breathing.

Luckily his colleague Alan who was playing golf with him had recently undertaken a CPR course at work and immediately began chest compressions, while the green keeper rang 999.

By chance, just a few months before Phil’s cardiac arrest a community public access defibrillator (CPAD) was installed at the petrol station in the village for easy access. The manager at Kilworth Springs Club collected it and applied it to Phil’s chest, with two shocks being administered while CPR continued for a total of twenty minutes.

Shortly after paramedics and The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) arrived on scene and flew him to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for further treatment – he received another two shocks from the defibrillator on route.

Phil spent two days in intensive care in an induced coma and had a stent fitted, but later that week was discharged after making a remarkable recovery.

“You can be prepared for many things in life, but not this. The fact someone was there to do CPR and then fetch the defibrillator – well it’s just fantastic”, said Jackie, Philip’s wife. “Phil is here as a testament to the fast action of his friends,” she added.

Today, Phil hopes that by sharing his experience it shows just how vital early CPR and access to community public access defibrillators can be in saving someone’s life.

“Luckily, I was playing with a golfer who had been trained in CPR only two weeks earlier and the defibrillator available had been installed some months before in memory of Claire Squires from North Kilworth who sadly died after suffering a cardiac arrest whilst running in the London Marathon,” said Philip Dunkley.

The first time the defibrillator was used was the day Phil collapsed.

Bystanders can improve survival chances by starting the chain of survival as soon as possible, which includes performing CPR and using a defibrillator.

“I consider myself very fortunate that luck was on my side that day.  Every day is now a bonus,” he added.