Cardiac arrest survivor thanks man who saved his life

A man who suffered a cardiac arrest last year has met the person who saved his life at a CPR training event hosted by University Hospitals Dorset (UHD).

Pete Tonkin, 63, was at Queen's Park Gym in February 2025 when he had a cardiac arrest.

A member of staff, Tom Guest, immediately started CPR on Pete while an ambulance was dispatched. He continued CPR after delivering an electric shock from the gym's automated external defibrillator before paramedics arrived.

L-R - Pete Tonkin and Tom Guest

Tom said: "It was clear from first laying eyes on Pete that it was a cardiac arrest and was therefore vital to get directly onto chest compressions.  Nothing can prepare you for actually dealing with that situation  but I just followed through with my training."

Pete, who has since fully recovered, said he was jogging on a machine on 19 February and "the next thing I know, I'm in hospital". He said the cardiac arrest came without warning, with no prior symptoms or extreme exercising.

The pair met on Thursday 15 October at a CPR public traning event hosted by UHD's Resuscitation Team at Littledown Leisure Centre in Bournemouth. 

Resuscitation Officer, Adam Meehan, said: "Pete and Tom's story is a powerful example of just how important CPR training is. It's a skill that really can make all the difference, with effective CPR techniques proving to treble the chances of a person surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Our message is simple - please take the time to learn CPR like Tom did. You just never know when you might need it."

Pete added: "My doctor said it was an extraordinary event, but I think the extraordinary event was how Tom acted like he did and saved my life."

L-R - Pete, Tom, and UHD Resus Officers,  Adam and Isabella