Oswestry firefighter suffers heart attack on call
A firefighter is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack while on his way to answer a call.
Retained firefighter Michael Mounsey collapsed inside Oswestry Fire Station as he was preparing to turn out to a chimney fire.
But within four hours of his collapse, the 36-year-old was sitting up in bed after an operation to remove a blood clot from his heart.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said he was saved thanks to the quick actions of colleagues during the incident at 7.25pm on Tuesday.
They gave him oxygen at the scene, while a paramedic administered morphine and a surgeon operated within a short time of his arrival by ambulance at Stafford Hospital's cardiology unit.
And some of those on shift when Mr Mounsey collapsed have relived what happened in the moments after their colleague collapsed at the fire station in Mount Road.
"It was a combination of fate, timing and praise to the NHS," said Neil Maguire, a watch manager with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service who was first on the scene when his colleague collapsed.
"Michael had slumped on the floor clutching his chest and was in excruciating pain.
"We called the ambulance and I administered oxygen therapy. Within minutes the paramedic was here, wired him up to an ECG and gave him morphine."
Five firefighters turned out to attend the chimney fire, while three remained at Oswestry Fire Station. Mr Mounsey's girlfriend was alerted and was able to travel with him to hospital.
"It is quite something for him to be sat up in a hospital bed on the mend just four hours after suffering a serious heart attack," Mr Maguire added.
"The NHS worked tremendously, the paramedic was excellent and they got him to hospital and a surgeon operated on him, all within four hours."
