15th Nov 2023 - Written by James Craig
Reading time: 3 minutes
Gary Smith, who is part of the team at our Glastonbury care home, has thanked colleagues who helped save his life after he suffered a heart attack while at work. Facilities Manager Gary collapsed last month and had five further cardiac arrests while being taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.
After undergoing emergency heart surgery, Gary is now recovering at home and visited his colleagues at the care home to pass on his thanks. Gary was particularly keen to praise Registered Nurse Sony Kurian and Deputy Manager Tom Knauer, who supported him while he waited for paramedics to arrive.
Paying tribute to his co-workers in an interview with BBC Radio Somerset, Gary said:
“I think my colleagues were amazing, and I was in the right place at the right time thankfully.”
“If it wasn’t for their quick reactions, making sure I was settled and keeping me talking – or even if I had been at home – it would’ve been a very different story.
“They really did save my life. I was in hospital for just four days – the cardiologist couldn’t believe how quickly I recovered. They put it down to the quick reactions from my colleagues.”
Tom Knauer, Deputy Manager at Glastonbury care home, said:
“As health care professionals we all know how this could have had a very different outcome. Gary is here with us today and still able to spend time with family because of the actions of Sony and the pre-hospital team. We are thankful for the efforts of everyone involved.
“Gary embodies everything we strive to be here at Glastonbury Care Home and we cannot wait to see him back fit and cracking awful jokes.”
We are wishing Gary a speedy recovery and want to say a huge thanks to Sony, Tom and the Glastonbury team for their quick thinking and heroic actions.