The family of Peter O’Donnell, 68, who suffered a cardiac arrest in Chatham, paid a heartfelt visit to Special Constable Laura Meeks to thank her for helping to save his life. The incident occurred on Friday, 23 August 2024, while Peter was visiting his sister Annie and niece Shannon. Shannon immediately performed CPR on her uncle until SC Meeks and paramedic Emily Brown from the Joint Response Unit arrived to take over. Further ambulance crews, including an air ambulance, also attended the scene.

Peter regained consciousness with the help of a defibrillator and is now recovering in hospital. His family surprised SC Meeks with a visit during a special constables’ training session, presenting her with flowers to express their gratitude.

Annie, Peter’s sister, said, “We just felt so overwhelmed by what she did for us all. For such a young woman, she was so calm, focused, and reassuring. The speed and professionalism demonstrated by her and the paramedics was amazing. She is a real credit to Kent Police, the Special Constabulary, and the Joint Response Unit.”

Shannon, who performed CPR on her uncle, added: “I learned CPR in school, but it’s something you never expect to have to do, especially not on your own relative. I want to stress the importance of recognising the signs of cardiac arrest and taking immediate action. Knowing how to perform CPR and being confident in yourself can save a life.”

SC Meeks, who joined the Kent Special Constabulary in August 2023 and qualified in February 2024, volunteers several times a week while working as a call handler for an energy company. She said, “It was a lovely surprise for Peter’s family to come and see me. I had no idea, and it was very emotional. I’m just glad I was able to help, and they were able to celebrate his birthday with him in hospital.”

The Joint Response Unit is a partnership between Kent Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, where special constables and paramedics work together to respond to emergencies.

Kent Special Constabulary, which received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, offers frontline police work opportunities and specialisations not available in other forces. For more information on joining, visit the Kent Police website.