A WROUGHTON woman is braving a wing walk next month as a thank-you the medics who saved her dad’s life.

Nadine Hicks will face her fear of heights to raise money for Above & Beyond, the official charity for all hospitals within UH Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Her 61-year-old dad, Steve Hicks, was treated at the Bristol Heart Institute after suffering a cardiac arrest last year.

Nadine, 32, said: “I have never known terror like I felt when dad went into cardiac arrest in my mum and dad’s living room, and I have never felt relief or gratitude like I did when I realised he was going to be okay.

“I always think I can’t ask people for their hard-earned cash unless I’m actually going to push myself out of my comfort zone properly.”

Steve was at home with his wife Carmen, 64, when he complained of chest pains. It soon turned into something worse.

Paramedics were called and performed CPR, before Steve was taken to the BHI via Swindon’s Great Western Hospital.

“The paramedic started CPR and had a backup team on the way,” recalled Nadine.

“Mum and I were beside ourselves at what we were seeing. We wanted to help but we couldn’t. I just kept talking to dad as loudly as possible just hoping that he could hear me and it might be of some help.

“We could see on the machine that dad’s heart had stopped and the resuscitation wasn’t working how we were praying it would.

“After four minutes, the paramedics had his heart going again but it was clear he wasn’t out of the woods.

"They were battling to get him onto a gurney and even when he was in the ambulance it took a long time to calm and stabilise him enough to be taken to the hospital.”

In Bristol, he suffered another cardiac arrest and was then put into an induced coma to reduce the chance of brain damage. A few days later he was brought out of the coma.

Nadine said: “We always knew he was stubborn and that he’d do anything for us, but we’ve never been more grateful for either than in that moment.

“His eyes were darting around the room, following the voices but I’m not convinced that he was able to see or process who was there in that moment. We were telling him it was us and he seemed to calm down hearing our voices, especially when he heard mum’s voice.

“Dad still needed a lot of care and the doctors and nurses did not let up once. I honestly cannot fault the people and their treatment of us and dad.”

Karlie Evans, Above & Beyond community fundraising officer, said: “Nadine is so brave taking on a wing walk when she doesn’t like heights, I’m always amazed at the efforts our fundraisers will go to.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nadine-hicks1