'Adam's chair' helps responders save lives in Epping Forest

Adam Ayres was just 38 when he collapsed on Epping High Street while on a night out in September 2020.

Community first responders were at the scene and were able to begin resuscitation until the East of England Ambulance Service crews arrived.

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Sadly Adam, from North Weald, died at the scene.

Now, his family have been able to gift the ambulance service a specialist Raizer II lifting chair after raising £7,000 pounds.

The chair, known as ‘Adam’s Chair’, helps get patients who have fallen up and moving again, without the need for a transfer to hospital.

Community first responder John Newman was first on scene he said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Sue and Chris chose to donate this piece of kit to us, and I have already used it with several of our patients.”

“We attended one elderly patient on Christmas Eve and were able to lift them safely and discharge them at the scene thanks to Adam’s chair, which meant they spent Christmas at home not in hospital.”

Adam’s mother, Sue, said: “John told us that he’s used the chair several times already.

Epping High Street

“One patient’s relative asked him about the chair, and he told them the story behind it.

“The relative said they were so grateful that despite our tragic loss we had thought of others, but that was our Adam – he was just so caring."

She added: “He would always give money to homeless people and told his mates he did it because that could easily be him, or them.

“That’s why we did what we did – because it’s what Adam would have done.

“It makes us happy to think that despite losing him, we’ve been able to do something in his memory that can really benefit our community.

“The work the CFRs do is really wonderful. I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

Community first responders are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work.