A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who collapsed in work and suffered a cardiac arrest has thanked her lifesavers.

Alwena Evans, manager of Thomas Motor Mart in Glanrafon but who lives in Bala, was sitting in the garage’s back office one afternoon when she suddenly began to feel ill.

One of her colleagues quickly jumped into action to perform CPR when she collapsed to the floor, while road and air ambulance teams made their way to the scene.

Alwena said: “I went to work as normal feeling fine. It was about lunchtime when I started to feel unwell and I vomited and also started sweating.

“At first I thought it was just a bug, but then I suddenly collapsed from my chair.”

MOT tester Gavin Anyon was planning to head home for the day when he spotted Alwena falling.

He dialled 999 and started to perform CPR with the guidance of Welsh Ambulance Service call handler Amanda Williams.

Gavin said: “I was literally just about to walk out of the door when I saw her collapse from the chair and fall to the floor. I dialled 999 and the lady on the phone told me exactly what to do.

“I did a few checks before starting CPR and everything just happened so quickly, but afterwards it was a very nerve-wracking experience.”

Paramedics Ludwick Mrowiec and Gareth Roberts, based at Bala Ambulance Station, arrived on the scene within six minutes, followed shortly by a member of the Uwchaled Community First Responder (CFR) team.

They confirmed Alwena was suffering a cardiac arrest and, after delivering a shock with a defibrillator, achieved a return of spontaneous circulation.

However, the 65-year-old went back into cardiac arrest and required a further five shocks, as well as other lifesaving treatment.

Alwena was airlifted to the North Wales Cardiac Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on the afternoon of 11 October 2017.

There she underwent an operation to have a stent fitted to improve the blood flow around her heart.

She was discharged from hospital nine days later and returned to work a week before Christmas.

Alwena was recently reunited with Ludwick and Gareth to thank them for their involvement in saving her life.

Following Alwena’s illness, the community is now aiming to raise £1,300 to place a public access defibrillator outside the garage so it’s available when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

You can make a donation towards the new defibrillator by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageUrl=AlwenaEvansSee this week's north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday