As of: February 7, 2024, 5:30 a.m
By: Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
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Timely help: Paul Barnes thanks Florian Lohse and Jakob Lenzen for their life-saving efforts in First Responder Hohenschäftlarn.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
Paul Barnes provided the absolute goosebumps moment during the annual meeting of the Hohenschäftlarn fire department.
The 60-year-old came to thank his lifesavers.
Hohenschäftlarn
– At first it was a normal Saturday for Paul Barnes, one like so many before.
The 60-year-old spent the day in the home office and wanted to make dinner after work.
“It must have been around 7:30 p.m.,” he remembers.
“Suddenly I felt that something was wrong with me.” Because there was suddenly a sharp, spreading pain in my breastbone that was getting worse and worse.
Barnes panicked.
“I just thought, I need help, I need help.” He just managed to call his girlfriend.
She immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and had the presence of mind to call 911 before setting off herself.
On the move with an emergency vehicle
Meanwhile, just a few streets away, Florian Lohse and Jakob Lenzen, both first responders from the Hohenschäftlarn Volunteer Fire Department, were on the move in the emergency vehicle.
“When we heard the emergency call, we reacted immediately,” says Lohse.
“We were basically around the corner.” The situation in the Barnes house had now become more serious.
“Because of the pain, I only partially understood what was happening.
I was shaking and could hardly breathe.” Lohse and Lenzen immediately recognized the life-threatening situation and initiated initial relief measures.
“A little later the emergency doctor and the rescue service arrived and took over further care.”
Barnes was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery.
He had suffered a heart attack.
Today the 60-year-old is doing well again.
“Thanks to the quick help, I didn’t suffer any damage.
I can now celebrate my birthday twice.
The first responders saved my life.”
Exactly on the day of the annual general meeting
And for that, Barnes also wanted to say thank you personally – unaware that his visit coincided with the exact day of the annual meeting.
The Zeller had already thrown in a card with greetings in advance.
“I actually wanted to read these out during the meeting,” says Commander Daniel Buck.
“Suddenly the sender was there in person, which made us incredibly happy.” Because in most cases, the responders no longer hear from their patients.
The First Responders were founded in 2010 and have been deployed around 230 times a year since then.
Statistically speaking, they get to the patient nine minutes before the emergency services and eleven minutes before the emergency doctor.
“Not only do they all have a high level of training, they are also extremely committed.
“I can only take my hat off,” praises Buck.
Jakob Lenzen and Florian Lohse, on the other hand, modestly defend themselves: “After all, that’s what we’re here for.
We are happy if we could help.”