Helifest singer praises emergency services after suffering cardiac arrest

A musician who is performing at Cornwall Air Ambulance’s event, Helifest, has praised the work of the emergency services after she suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrest.

Esther Baker, who fronts the Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Tango in the Night as Stevie Nicks, was attending a concert in Plymouth when she started to feel unwell.

After being sick in the toilets, Esther found a cleaner to ask for some help. A paramedic from Role 1 Medical, the events medical team who were staffing the gig, overheard the conversation and came over to see what had happened. Esther was taken to the bar area where she became unconscious and went into cardiac arrest.

Esther was given immediate CPR and a shock from a defibrillator. She was taken to Derriford Hospital where she was placed into an induced coma for five days.

Just over a year later, Esther has recovered well and is back to living life normally in St Austell. The mother-of-five, who works as a community pastor, has also learnt how to carry out CPR and is encouraging others to do the same.

She said:

“When I think about saying thank you, it is never enough. They didn’t just save Esther Baker that day, they saved a mum, they saved an auntie, a sister, a friend, a work colleague, the Stevie Nicks of the band I sing in. If it hadn’t have been for what they did that day, I would not have seen my grandchild be born, I wouldn’t be here.”

After being inspired by TV programmes such as Cornwall Air 999, the documentary series about the lifesaving work of Cornwall Air Ambulance, Esther’s son Alfie is now training to become a paramedic himself.

When the opportunity to play at Helifest arose, Esther jumped at the chance saying it is a fitting way to give back to Cornwall’s blue light services.

She added:

“I was the last person I thought anything like that would happen to, but it happened to me. It was a really traumatic time for the family. It has completely changed my life and how I see the emergency services, they saved my life that day.”

Tango in the Night will be headlining Helifest from 7-8.30pm on Saturday, 6^th July at Scorrier House, near Redruth.

Buy tickets here today.