A heartfelt reunion took place between a woman and the officers who saved her life after a near-fatal incident
Braintree: A woman named Jacqueline Alston had a terrifying experience when she suffered a cardiac arrest while driving. It happened back in May on Dunmow Road, and her car crashed into a telegraph pole.
Her heart actually stopped for over an hour! But thanks to some quick-thinking police officers and good Samaritans, she made it through. It’s pretty incredible when you think about it.
Jacqueline’s husband, Gary, couldn’t believe it either. He said, “She shouldn’t be here really. Nobody survives a stroke and a cardiac arrest.” It’s like something out of a movie, right?
Two bystanders, Andy and Adrian, jumped in to help. They rescued Jacqueline through the sunroof of her car. Meanwhile, community officers Sgt. Fitt and PC Baggley were nearby and rushed to the scene.
When they got there, they cut away Jacqueline’s clothes and started CPR. A trained medic named Mark Johnson was also on hand, ready with a defibrillator that a passerby had brought.
Jacqueline was placed on life support at Basildon Hospital, and her family was really worried. But after four days in critical care, she surprised everyone by talking again!
After months of recovery in different hospitals, Jacqueline finally got to go home to Braintree in December, just in time for Christmas. What a gift!
Sgt. Fitt said it was amazing to hear Jacqueline was conscious. When he visited her home, it felt surreal to see her celebrating with her family. He even got a bit emotional when she thanked him during their reunion last month.
