Paramedic saves himself from heart attack

A Victorian paramedic who suffered a heart attack while on-call managed to use his own heart monitor to diagnose himself, and then drove himself by ambulance to hospital.

Paramedic David Watson, 52, told 9NEWS he felt sudden onset of “crushing chest pain and tingles down both arms” while working out in Casterton last week.

“I had a good indication something bad was going on,” he said.

He used an electrocardiography (ECG) machine and realised he had an irregular heart beat and was suffering a major heart attack.

Mr Watson, who has been a paramedic for 25 years, then drove himself to the local hospital to be treated and was eventually airlifted to Geelong Hospital.

He said acting quickly was “critical” to his survival.

“Time is heart muscle,” he said.

Mr Watson was successfully treated with a stent in hospital and spent five days recovering.  

“I’m on the mend and taking it very easy for the next couple of months," he said.

Mr Watson has no history of heart problems in his family and exercises regularly, but has thrown out all unhealthy items from his kitchen cupboards. 

With AAP