Air ambulance 'pivotal' in saving golfer's life

A golfer whose heart stopped for two minutes while out on the course has praised the air ambulance crew he says helped save his life.

Andy Wilkins, 62, was playing a round at Cleethorpes Golf Club in July 2025 when he noticed a pain in his chest. By the time he reached the end of the fairway, the pain had become overwhelming and he went into cardiac arrest.

His friends called 999 and he was taken by Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance to hospital.

"There were lots of people who saved my life that day but, without a doubt, the air ambulance was pivotal in saving me. I wouldn't be here without them," he said.

Wilkins said he always considered himself fit and healthy and, after noticing the pain in his chest, he carried on playing.

"By the time I reached the end of the fairway, the pain I had became overwhelming. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest," he said.

Moments later he slumped down and began to feel pain in his left arm.

For a couple of minutes, Wilkins' heart stopped beating. CPR was started and a defibrillator was used.

An ambulance arrived within about 10 minutes.

Wilkins said the crew told him he was going into cardiac arrest and then everything went blank.

"It was like the TV had turned off at the end of the night," he said.

"Just like that, I was gone."

When he came round, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance had landed nearby and he was taken to Lincoln hospital.

Wilkins had a stent inserted through his arm into his heart and was in intensive care before being moved to a heart ward.

He spent a further few days in hospital before recovering at home.

Doctors later told Andy he had suffered considerable damage to his heart which was functioning about 35% lower than it should have been.

"I needed that helicopter transportation," Wilkins said.

"By road, I don't think I would have made it."

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