The Kilkeel and Newry crews who worked together at a collapse call on January 9th got the opportunity to meet up with the patient again at Newry Ambulance Station last week.

Mr Pat Golding, a retired 72 year old, had been in Warrenpoint with his wife Maria when disaster struck. Pat suddenly felt unwell and collapsed to the ground. Whilst a Newry crew was on standby at the town's fire station, the Kilkeel crew were returning to base and were flagged down just yards from the scene.

Aidan Rice was the first paramedic on scene with his partner Richard Dundas and reckons that defibrillation had commenced within 90 seconds of Pat collapsing. The Newry crew of Libby McFarlane and Aidan Kelly arrived to assist and within half an hour Pat was in Daisy Hill Hospital A&E Department and his recovery was well underway.

A stay in Craigavon Area Hospital followed and after surgery in the RVH in Belfast Pat was allowed home some weeks later. He and his wife were keen to meet up with the crews for whom they have so much admiration. He visited Newry Ambulance Station on Friday 6 February, four weeks to the day after the incident and was fulsome in his praise for the actions of all concerned. He said that whilst, perhaps thankfully, he cannot remember too much of what went on, his wife had been able to fill him in on the details and he just wanted to say thanks.

Pat believes that, on that day in January, "an angel must have been sitting on my shoulder", so close were the crews. The crews themselves were delighted to have the opportunity to meet Pat and Maria who they have described as being an absolutely adorable couple.