21-year-old thanks lifesaving neighbours and medics who saved his life
16 October 2024
A young man whose heart stopped when his car collapsed on top of him has reunited with the neighbours and medics who saved his life.
On 27 June 2024, Jack Thomas, 21, was changing the suspension on his car at his home in Gaerwen when the jack failed causing the car to collapse, leaving him trapped underneath.
His neighbour, Nicole Taylor luckily spotted Jack under the car and was first to alert others nearby, including Ysbyty Gwynedd Neonatal Nurse Sasha Wyn Evans, who all came to his aid and successfully lifted the vehicle to release him.
Jack was unconscious and not breathing, Sasha immediately started CPR to provide him with the best chance of survival before the emergency services arrived.
Welsh Ambulance Service Paramedic Ian Parry was the first medical responder to the scene and has praised the group of neighbours who came to Jack’s aid.
He said: “When I arrived I saw Sasha who was carrying out chest compressions on Jack, with Emyr taking over and I told them to keep going – Jack now had a pulse again, the fact CPR was carried out straight away meant they saved his life.”
Due to the extent of Jack’s injuries, the Wales Air Ambulance was also dispatched.
Following treatment from the paramedics, and critical care team on board Wales Air Ambulance, Jack was then airlifted by to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where he was placed on the Critical Care Unit. Thankfully, he made a miraculous recovery, and was home in less than two weeks.
Jack has now been reunited with his neighbours and medics who all played a part in keeping him alive that day.
He said: “I don’t remember what happened, I just woke up in Stoke five days later and had no idea how I’d ended up there.
“I’m so grateful to my neighbours and the emergency responders for what they did for me that day, without them I wouldn’t be here.
“I’ve made such a good recovery since leaving hospital, everyone is so surprised at how quick I’m back on my feet and starting work again soon. I think it was hugely down to the fact I was given CPR so quickly.”
Sasha said the incident has highlighted the importance of CPR and is now encouraging as many others as possible to learn the life-saving emergency procedure.
She said: “It’s really hard for me to take credit for something that you have been essentially trained to do as a nurse. However, not once do you think your morning would consist of helping your neighbours free someone from beneath a car and eventually having to give chest compressions, anyone’s worst nightmare, nurse or not.
“Personally, I feel this incident has really highlighted the importance of attending some sort of emergency lifesaving training, and would urge anyone to attend as you never know when you will need to use it.”
Carl Hudson, Critical Care Practitioner on board the Wales Air Ambulance, attended the incident along with his colleague John Adams, and supports Sasha’s calls for more people to learn CPR.
He said: “Sadly it is not often we see a good outcome in an incident such as this and this is down to the fact that Jack’s neighbours came to his aid and CPR commenced straight away.
“It’s been fantastic seeing Jack again and seeing him look so well after what happened – I also echo what Sasha says, it is really important for everyone to learn CPR, it’s a vital tool to have if you are unfortunately ever in a situation that you would need to use it but as we see with Jack, without that he may not have had such a good outcome.”
Jack’s mum, Angharad added: “It’s incredible how well Jack is after what happened, he suffered broken ribs, collarbone along with a ripped spleen but things could have been so much worse.
“We can’t thank our neighbours and the emergency services enough, they are amazing people. We were even escorted by the police to the hospital in Stoke so we could be there with Jack as soon as possible – it was just amazing what everyone we did.”
Following this incident Jack, his family and friends are now planning on taking on the Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge on 20 September 2025 in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team.