An Alston woman who suffered a cardiac arrest and stroke has joyously reunited with the air ambulance team that saved her life.

Julia Richardson, 52, started having chest pains at home in May 2023.

When the pain persisted, her family promptly alerted emergency services.

Mrs Richardson's daughter, Kimberley Frazer, was among the first to respond.

Ms Frazer recalled: "Not long after I arrived, Mam went into cardiac arrest and I started CPR on her."

With swift response, a community first responder arrived at the scene.

Due to the remote location the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) got in touch with the critical care team from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

The community first responder and NWAS team executed several shocks to Mrs Richardson's heart, regaining its rhythmic beat.

As soon as the expert team from GNAAS arrived, they placed Mrs Richardson in a medically induced coma to secure her airway and protect her brain.

She was then airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, a journey completed in a speedy 12 minutes.

Reflecting on the chaotic scenario, Mrs Frazer said: "Theo, the doctor from GNAAS, met us in A&E and he was really good and gave us an update on what he’d done and what was happening and kept us in the loop.

"Looking back, I don't think we then understood the severity of the situation going forward.

"I remember saying to my husband, Nathan, I'm not leaving until she's sat up talking to us.

"But once we were allowed to go in and see her the doctor spoke with us, and we were told to prepare ourselves for the next several months."

News and Star: Julia and her family have thanked the team for their response

Mrs Richardson remained in a coma for ten days, and spent just over three weeks in the hospital and has been receiving support from specialists including physiotherapists, psychologists, and neuropsychologists since her discharge.

Discussing her therapy, she said: "They helped me start walking straight away, improved my balance and supported me being outside on my own.

"I was in an exercise group in Penrith with stroke patients for seven months before being discharged from the stroke team.

"They’re also supporting me going back to work and eventually going back to driving."

In gratitude to the GNAAS team, Mrs Richardson's workplace Grisedale Court, have held a fundraiser, and she has organised a birthday fundraiser on Facebook.

The collective effort raised £649 for the GNAAS charity.

She also visited the GNAAS base in Langwathby, Penrith, where she reunited with the team that saved her life.

Mrs Richardson said: "I must admit I was a bit nervous coming to the base because I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad I have met the team.

"I didn’t realise they delivered pre-hospital care.

"I thought GNAAS were there to get you from a to b quicker, but actually they have a critical care team on board, including a doctor who can treat you."

Mrs Frazer added: "Alston is such a small community and everyone knows Mam so I think it’s given people a shock that it can happen to anyone.

"Until you’ve used GNAAS in a situation like this, you don’t have the same appreciation for them at all."

Support is needed to keep GNAAS operational, visit gna.as/fund247 to learn how to help.