Alderney vicar delivers life saving CPR

Monday, 12 October 2026 09:45

Islanders are being urged to get CPR training this Restart A Heart Week.

Last year, Fran Trathen, who works part-time as an estate agent in Alderney, was showing someone around a property when she suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

Her client was Samantha Martell, the vicar, had completed a Restart A Heart refresher course the week before.

She immediately began CPR and kept going until the ambulance crew arrived.

Fran says she doesn't remember much of the incident, but Samantha recalls the day.

"I just went into autopilot and kept going, telling Fran, 'Don't die on me.'

"It felt like forever, but then I heard the sirens, and suddenly there were people all around us.

"The training was absolutely paramount.

"As a priest, I believe God was in all of this. It was the right place and the right time for me to be there for Fran."

Restart A Heart is a national event led by the Resuscitation Council which aims to increase the number of people surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

St John Ambulance & Rescue Service, which operates the ambulance service in Alderney, is again offering free CPR and AED sessions for islanders.

The first event is for States Members tomorrow (13 October), followed by drop-in sessions at the ambulance station at Crabby on Wednesday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

In Guernsey this week, St John is holding free CPR and AED sessions at the St John Training Hall, in the Rohais.