A HEREFORDSHIRE man who suffered a near-fatal heart attack has praised those who helped save his life.
Herefordshire Golf Club greenkeeper Ian Baudains was at work one Monday morning in September last year, when he suffered an unexpected near-fatal heart attack.
The 62-year-old had been experiencing chest pains the day before but thought it was indigestion.
"I woke up Monday with no pain at all so went to work as normal," said Mr Baudains.
"I was cutting the green when the chest pains came back again, this time they were much more severe, so I got off the mower and stopped for a moment.
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"I quickly decided I needed to head to the office for help. The team could see I was in a very bad way so called 999."
With an ambulance dispatched, the Herefordshire Golf Club team were also put in touch with Mercia accident rescue service.
Dr Malcolm Russell arrived within 10 minutes as he was in the area at the time.
His colleague Dr Ryan O'Leary joined him shortly after to help.
"I am so thankful Malcolm was the first responder," said Mr Baudains.
"In a way it was fate it was him. As one of the directors of the golf club we have known each other for some time, so it was so reassuring to see him."
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Mr Russell said when he arrived Mr Baudains was conscious but in a lot of pain, so he treated him at the scene and requested a response from the Midlands Air Ambulance.
Mr Baudians was taken to Worcester Royal Hospital by air ambulance where he underwent an emergency operation.
"It was a such a shock," said Mr Baudains.
"But I can't thank Malcolm, Ryan, and the Midlands Air Ambulance team enough."
The work that the rescue service does supporting is vital across Herefordshire, he said.
"I'm so thankful that I was able to go back to work full time in the New Year."
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On Friday July 29, Herefordshire Golf Club will be hosting the annual Prometheus Medical and Safeguard Medical golf day, aiming to raise £20,000 for the Mercia accident rescue service.
This will be enough for another clinician to provide life-saving support to critically ill or injured patients in the community, in support of the other emergency services.
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