A routine stop at Sainsbury’s turned into a life-or-death emergency when Heather found herself performing CPR on a stranger who had suddenly collapsed outside the store.
Heather had popped into the supermarket to buy a bottle of water after noticing two men outside, one of whom appeared unwell. Initially, she assumed he had simply had too much to drink. But a couple of minutes later, when she returned, the man was unconscious and being supported by his friend.
Realising something was seriously wrong, Heather quickly checked for signs of life. She could not detect any breathing, and immediately recognised that the man was in cardiac arrest.
She instructed the man’s friend to help lay him flat on the ground before beginning CPR. Bystanders had already called 999, and paramedics arrived within minutes.
Despite the arrival of the emergency team, Heather was asked to continue chest compressions while paramedics worked around her to prepare life-saving equipment. Heather stayed behind to support his friend, who was understandably in shock, offering to contact family members or accompany him to the hospital if needed.
Once the patient was safely in the ambulance and police had taken her details, Heather quietly left the scene, having stepped in at a critical moment when a stranger needed help most.
Heather joined her colleagues at a training session delivered by Save a Life for Scotland partners in September 2025. This session aimed to prepare the Firrhill High School teachers for Restart a Heart Live, a livestreamed CPR lesson on 1st October. She had no prior training or experience of CPR or defibrillator awareness.
”it's 100% one of the most valuable things that I've ever done
Heather said that, “although it was really difficult in the moments after, […] I know reasonably that I did everything I could have done”.
Nearly 4,000 people have resuscitation attempted after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in Scotland. Only about 10% survive. Even though not everyone can survive the situation, early CPR gives the patient a bit more time until the paramedics arrive on scene. In Heather’s case, a short training session meant she was able to put her prior learning into rapid action, knowing she did everything she could to help in the situation.
Schools, communities, families and individuals across the UK are being invited to take part in Restart A Heart Live 2026, a free, interactive livestream that aims to equip the next generation with the confidence and skills to help save a life.
Taking place on Thursday 1 October 2026, the event is open to primary and secondary schools, colleges, workplaces, community groups, families and individuals, providing engaging CPR and defibrillator awareness training that can be delivered directly in the classroom or home without the need for specialist equipment.
To find out more details and register for the event, head to https://www.restartaheart.live/ .
If you performed or witnessed CPR, or have been affected by cardiac arrest in any other way, take a look at some of the resources we listed on our Support After Cardiac Arrest page.
