Alan Smith will never forget those who saved his life the day he collapsed on the golf course.
The retired GP was enjoying a round of golf at Turriff with friends when he had a heart attack on the sixth fairway.
In a rapid response from everyone involved, his friend started giving him CPR, while club members raced across the course with a defibrillator and a Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) scrambled to the scene.
The SCAA team airlifted Mr Smith to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he underwent a triple heart bypass five days later.
Aberdeen-based Helimed 79 made it from Turriff course to ARI in 15 minutes, a trip that could have taken around an hour by road.
‘I owe my life to everyone who acted so quickly’
Mr Smith, 77, realises that the fast response of everyone around him was crucial in him surviving the heart attack.
He said: “I owe my life to everyone who acted so quickly that day, from the cool-headedness of my fellow golfers and officials whose care proved crucial, to SCAA and the specialist crew who basically brought the accident and emergency department expertise to my side by helicopter as I lay on the golf course and then airlifted me so speedily to hospital.”
Speaking about the role of SCAA specifically, he added: “SCAA is a wonderful charity and absolutely indispensable for those living, working or visiting communities far from major hospitals.
“I came as close to losing my life that day as you would ever want to come and I’m in no doubt that the speed of SCAA saved my life.”
SCAA week
Mr Smith is just one of many whose lives have been saved by teams at SCAA.
The charity celebrated its ninth anniversary on May 22 and is celebrating the feat with a week of fundraising.
It has launched the SCAA Week Appeal, urging people to donate to support the charity, which has responded to nearly 4,000 callouts since its inception.
Maureen Young, from the charity, said: “SCAA now responds to around 900 emergency callouts each year, taking them to the most serious illnesses and injuries wherever they happen in Scotland.
“Through its work, SCAA has touched the lives of thousands of people, their families, friends and communities as they fly help and hope to every corner of the country supported by the amazing fundraising efforts of the public and the generous donations from sponsors, businesses and organisations.”
A new video created to highlight the important work of SCAA has also been released as part of the anniversary celebrations.
You can donate to the SCAA Week Appeal here.
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