Woman reunited with the officer who saved her life
A woman has been reunited with the police officer who saved her life back in September while he was off duty.
Following a morning of chest pain and heart palpitations, Tina Collenette had a heart attack and cardiac arrest while her daughter Hannah was driving her to the emergency department.
Hannah pulled into a lay-by in Town, and having been parked on the Albert Pier at the time, PC James De La Mare rushed to the scene, using the defibrillator located at the bus terminus to resuscitate Mrs Collenette.
She was transferred to hospital in Southampton via medevac within four hours of the incident and is now recovering well, largely down to the speed of the response.
‘How do you thank someone who has saved your life? There is nothing you can do that is enough to say “thank you”,’ Mrs Collenette said.
‘I feel very fortunate that this incident happened at the time and place it did, exactly at the point where James was.
‘He truly needs to be commended for his prompt actions and also for the care and concern he showed myself and my daughter. Without his presence and professionalism on that day, I would not be here.’
Mrs Collenette initially reached out by writing to the police chief last month, explaining what had happened to her and to find the officer who saved her life.
She and her children reunited with PC De La Mare at the police station to talk about the incident and to express their gratitude.
PC De La Mare said that it was moments like this that reminded him why he joined the police service.
‘Seeing Tina doing so well and hearing her story was the greatest thank you I could ever receive,’ he said.
‘I am so grateful that I was there when it happened and that I could make a difference.
‘I hope to see Tina in the future, living her life to the fullest.’
Mrs Collenette’s family have extended a huge thanks to the police, ambulance service and medevac team.
Both Mrs Collenette and PC De La Mare have expressed the importance of being trained in life-saving techniques.
‘If you ever can attend any form of life-saving training, please do,’ said PC De La Mare.
‘I’m fortunate to receive incredible training by our specialist training department on a yearly basis. It’s an invaluable skill, and you never know when it might be needed.’
There were others at the scene who offered to help, including a retired doctor and her friend, and an off-duty firefighter.
The Collenette family said they would like to send personal thanks if those individuals could be tracked down.
