Samuel’s Story

“Not once did we ever think that we would need you”

The Chapman family were holidaying in Cornwall, as they do every summer, when 12-year-old Samuel suffered a sudden anaphylactic shock.

It was the 14^th August 2022, day one of the trip, and the four of them were staying near Padstow.

Parents Mark and Liz were upstairs in the holiday accommodation when Samuel shouted, “It’s happening again!” up to them. Only a few weeks before he had suffered a reaction where an EpiPen had to be administered and he was taken to hospital at home in Berkshire.

Samuel had vomited and was deteriorating quickly, so mum Liz, who is also a nurse, administered an EpiPen and gave him Ventolin. After no immediate effect, she administered a second EpiPen and called 999.

Dad Mark had jumped in the car and was driving over to the holiday park reception, ready to meet the land ambulance crew, when he saw the Cornwall Air Ambulance in the sky above. He rushed back and met Critical Care Paramedics Jeremy Griffiths and Martin Bunt, taking them to the accommodation.

Mark said: “I was quite concerned that it had happened again, the EpiPens are to manage a nut allergy. Samuel had eaten two things that morning, neither we anticipated to have any trace of nuts. My initial reaction when I saw the helicopter is that can’t be for us, it’s far too quick.”

“I could hear the air ambulance, and it got quite low, and I thought ‘oh my gosh is that for us then’, it felt like two minutes since putting the phone down that I could hear it”, added Liz.

“It was so calm from that point, the paramedics were very reassuring and talking to Samuel like he was their best friend. They gave this wonderful feeling that all is okay, it was very comforting. I really did feel he was in the best possible hands.

“I was so impressed with the speed at which they came, it literally felt like two minutes from putting the phone down to hearing the helicopter. There was no panic, or element of worry, it was so calm but they were so efficient and quick and methodical. It was so reassuring.”

The Cornwall Air Ambulance crew, along with the land ambulance paramedics, carried out an assessment.

Martin Bunt, Critical Care Paramedic, said: “We were able to access the scene rapidly by flying direct to the holiday park, and once there perform a clinical assessment of Samuel who had suffered what appeared to be an anaphylactic reaction. Fortunately enough it was an improving picture for him following prompt administration of his own EpiPen by his mother. He was then able to be transferred by our ambulance colleagues by road to Treliske.”

Speaking of his experience, Samuel said: “It was quite scary, I don’t really remember what happened as I was nodding off but when I came round and I was already at the hospital, it made me realise I was in safe hands.”

Luckily Samuel was able to be discharged from hospital later that day. The family had a quiet few days to recover then enjoyed the last of their holiday before returning home to Berkshire.

“As a parent I felt very fortunate and incredibly lucky that Samuel was able to have such expert care delivered to him almost instantaneously. The only way they would have been faster is via teleportation”, said Mark. “They were the best people we could ever have hoped for to come out in a very difficult situation.”

Liz added: “They truly are heroes, I really do think they are. The number of times we have driven past your base and seen your signs, not once did we ever think that we’d need you.”

The family have now very kindly begun a direct debit to support the vital work of Cornwall Air Ambulance, saying “We shall never forget what you did for us that day.”

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