Cyclist backs CPR campaign after having life saved

A man who had a cardiac arrest by the side of a road and survived after passers-by gave CPR for more than 20 minutes has backed a push to train more people to help save others.

Craig Ormiston said he spent three weeks sedated at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford in Kent after collapsing while cycling near Brands Hatch in June 2025.

Ormiston, a former triathlete, was saved after passers-by Emma Stanney and Richard Harrington began doing chest compressions while waiting for paramedics and an air ambulance to arrive.

"It's all good and well being trained but you have to have the belief and bravery to get started," Ormiston said.

He explained he chose to go for a cycle near Brands Hatch and the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital three weeks later.

Harrington and Stanney had taken an alternative route to Brands Hatch to try and save time when they came across Ormiston collapsed by the side of the road.

"The reality is if it's just you and a friend and the ambulance is 20 minutes away, you can't swap out," Stanney said.

Harrington added: "You are only going to help that individual. You are doing exactly what was needed."

Helicopter paramedic Allan McHenry said: "The reality is that if Richard and Emma had not done anything, Craig would not be here.

"People often worry about hurting someone when performing CPR, but when somebody is in cardiac arrest, doing something is always better than doing nothing."

To mark Restart a Heart Day on Friday, which aims to raise awareness of cardiac arrests and the importance of learning CPR, Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex is hosting sessions on how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, including at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford.

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