Off-Duty Nurse, Who Saved Retired Pilot While Shopping, Reunites With Patient
Image source: MEDWAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST via SWNS
An off-duty nurse in Chatham, Kent, stepped in to save the life of a retired pilot, showcasing the skills and quick thinking healthcare workers bring to any situation. This remarkable moment led to an emotional reunion between the two, showing just how far the impact of healthcare professionals can reach—even outside the workplace.
Rachael Lewis, a nurse who was off-duty at the time, found herself in an urgent situation while walking near a shopping mall where she found Chris Mills, a retired pilot, unconscious. Without hesitation, Lewis used her medical training to assess the situation and provide critical care. Her swift action stabilized Mills until emergency services arrived, ultimately saving his life.
As a clinical practice facilitator in nursing education, Lewis attributes her effective response in this high-pressure situation to “a combination of adrenaline and training.” She emphasizes that the successful rescue was a team effort, with her CPR-trained partner providing essential assistance and other members of the public stepping in to help as well.
Just five days after the incident, Lewis was reunited with Mills at Medway Maritime Hospital, where she works. This time, Mills was awake, recovering, and able to meet the person who helped save his life. “I am truly grateful for her life-saving actions – she is certainly an angel,‘’ Chris said. He and his family expressed profound gratitude for Lewis’ life-saving actions.
Chris’ wife, Brenda, added, “We were so very lucky that Rachael was passing. She immediately took over and made sure CPR was being administered properly while the ambulance was on its way. If it wasn’t for Rachael’s quick actions and the wider care of the NHS, Chris wouldn’t be here today.’’
