Cardiac arrest survivor backs ambulance service campaign to teach lifesaving CPR

A West Yorkshire man who survived a cardiac arrest thanks to the efforts of off-duty police officers is sharing his story to support Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s Restart a Heart campaign and encourage more people to learn CPR.

Andrew Sharp, 79, from Steeton near Keighley, was enjoying an evening of rock and roll dancing with his wife Judith at The Punch Bowl in Silsden in April 2026 when he suddenly collapsed. He fell from his chair, became unresponsive and stopped breathing.

Three off-duty North Yorkshire Police Response Officers Jemima Johnstone, Kyle McBride and Oli Wilson immediately stepped in and performed CPR until the ambulance service arrived. Andrew was taken to Airedale General Hospital, where he spent seven weeks recovering. During his treatment, he spent 23 days in intensive care, developed pneumonia, was placed on a ventilator, and later had three stents fitted at Leeds General Infirmary.

Andrew said: “I don’t remember anything for the first two weeks, so I was shocked and incredibly grateful when I heard what had happened.”

Response officer, PC Oli Wilson of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I was simply glad we were there and able to take positive action which gave the gentleman a fighting chance before our partner agencies arrived and continued his care. It was very much a team effort, and the outcome highlights the importance of acting quickly and having basic CPR knowledge.”

Four weeks after he was discharged from hospital, Andrew and Judith attended a Yorkshire Ambulance Service CPR and defibrillator familiarisation event in Steeton.

“We wanted to make sure that if we ever came across someone in cardiac arrest, we would know what to do and be able to make a difference,” he said.

Now Andrew, a retired carpentry and joinery lecturer at Keighley College and Craven College, is backing Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s Restart a Heart campaign, which aims to improve cardiac arrest survival rates by giving people the confidence to step in, perform CPR and use a defibrillator when every second counts.