Hero Firefighter Saves Child at School Sports Day
A young life was snatched back from the brink during a sports day at St George’s School in Wrotham, thanks to off-duty firefighter Ian from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS).
Ian, an on-call firefighter based at Borough Green Fire Station, was working nearby as a builder when the GoodSam app pinged him about a cardiac arrest emergency right at the school. Without hesitation, he dropped everything and sprinted to the scene.
Lightning-Fast CPR Brings Child Back from the Dead
The child had collapsed, with no pulse and not breathing. Ian sprang into action performing CPR using skills honed from his firefighter training.
“The skills I’ve developed as an on-call firefighter mean I’m confident to jump into action, fast, and help people in times of need,” Ian said.
An off-duty paramedic parent joined the rescue alongside school staff and emergency medics over the phone. A defibrillator was fetched, but Ian’s CPR had already sparked signs of life before it was even used.
“After a few rounds of CPR, the child gripped my hand,” Ian recalled. “At first, I thought it was just a muscular contraction, but then they gripped it again. We got a faint pulse.”
The child was rushed to hospital and made a full recovery, returning to class within days.
School and Community Rally Together
Elizabeth, headteacher at St George’s Primary, praised Ian’s professionalism and the calm response from staff:
“When the young child collapsed, my teachers followed all the procedures brilliantly. But when Ian arrived, you could feel the reassurance of someone with first responder experience.”
The incident prompted staff to attend a CPR and defibrillator refresher course at Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
“It’s important everyone keeps up to date with basic first aid,” Elizabeth added. “It doesn’t happen often, but you must be ready.”
A Personal Mission to Teach Life-Saving Skills
For Ian, CPR is more than just a job – it’s personal. He lost his best friend to sudden cardiac arrest at just 21, with no defibrillators or CPR knowledge nearby at the time.
“That’s why I’m passionate about teaching others these simple but essential skills,” Ian explained.
KFRS runs regular CPR and defibrillator training sessions across Kent and Medway, urging locals to learn how to save lives.
Get Trained and Save a Life
Ian stresses the importance for everyone in Kent and Medway to book sessions with firefighters:
“The more people who know these simple life-saving skills, the more lives we can save.”
For details and to book training, visit the Kent Fire and Rescue Service website.
This incredible rescue shows just how vital CPR and defibrillator know-how can be—and how a split-second response can change a life forever.
