Occupational therapist James Carolan has been praised for his quick thinking and professionalism after providing lifesaving care to a woman who collapsed in the main entrance of Princess Royal Hospital.
James was arriving for his shift at the Sussex Rehab Centre when he witnessed the woman, in her 30s, collapse in front of him as he was walking into work. Without hesitation, he stepped in and began performing CPR, sustaining vital care until the emergency response team arrived.
James said: “I was just heading into work, ready for a day of meetings and supporting patients with neurological rehabilitation, then suddenly this woman collapsed in front of me.
“There wasn’t any time to think about what was happening. I just knew I needed to perform CPR, and I kept going whilst waiting for emergency colleagues.”
The woman had been visiting a family member at the hospital when she became unwell.
Thanks to James’s immediate intervention, she received essential early CPR, began to recover and regain responsiveness after the cardiac arrest team arrived at the scene.
After handing over to the emergency team, James continued to the rehab centre to begin his shift, pausing only to let his team know what had happened before returning to his day.
Jane Burrell, Occupational Therapy Team Lead, who nominated James, said: “We are incredibly proud of James and his impressive actions. He remained calm under pressure, acted with compassion, and then quietly carried on with his day. His quick response gave the woman a crucial chance at survival. He thoroughly deserves this recognition.”
James’s actions have left a lasting impression across the Trust, and he will now be considered in the Star of the Year category, along with his fellow Star of the Month winners at the Trust’s annual STAR Awards later this year.