I was lucky enough to attend the Heart Safe Awards 2018 at The Hilton, Manchester on Friday evening, what an inspiring event!
The Hand on Heart charity do amazing work raising awareness and money to equip schools with de-fibrillators and to train school aged children how to do CPR.
There were so many well deserved nominees at the event. I was a guest of Witton Albion Junior Football Club who had been nominated for an award, unfortunately they did not win but it really was a night where everyone was a winner as every story meant that life-saving work had taken place within a community.
By far the most emotional story of the night and most deserved award for Life-Saver of the Year went to Joe Rowlands. Joe is 15 years old and whilst out kayaking at sea with his dad they capsized. They were in terrible conditions and Joe’s dad had become unconscious whilst they were in the water. Joe kept his dad afloat and managed to swim to some rocks and drag his dad up to safety. They then waited for nearly 3 hours before Air Rescue found them during which time Joe kept his dad alive. Such a brave young lad, there really wasn’t a dry eye in the room and he received a standing ovation for his amazing efforts.
