A ‘HEROIC’ first-aider has saved a man’s life in Rugby town centre – less than a week after she finished her training.
Ella McCauley, 21, sprang into action during her shift at a town centre bar when when a customer at a neighbouring hairdressers had a cardiac emergency on Friday (April 4).
Ella, restaurant manager at Inside The 22, had only completed her first aid training four days previously when David, a customer at Mack Hair Studios, fell ill.
She said: “The ladies from Mack ran into our bar to ask if anyone had first aid training, and thankfully I was able to step up.
“I tried to get David to open his eyes, but he wasn’t responding. It was scary not knowing if he was going to pull through. I told someone to quickly go and get a nearby defibrillator and started CPR.
“I’ll be honest – it was terrifying. I felt David’s ribs breaking but I did all I could. When the paramedics arrived, they told me I was doing a great job and to carry on whilst they cut his clothes off, and I just kept going, giving it all I had.
“If I wasn’t there doing CPR in those minutes, I’ve been told that he wouldn’t have made it.”
Ella received gifts and a card with a heartfelt note from David’s family, expressing their gratitude.
David’s wife Tracey said: “Words don’t even begin to cover what we truly feel about what Ella did for our family. She saved David’s life, and in turn our lives also. She’s truly amazing and a wonderful soul. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
David’s family confirmed that he was doing well.
Mack owner Claire Gillooly said seeing loyal customer David in a medical emergency was a shock.
She added: “I’ll be forever grateful that Ella was there that day. This experience has shown us that we’re not just individual businesses — we’re a community that supports each other when needed most.”
Ella learned her life-saving skills after Inside The 22 owner Oliver Taylor secured a Warwickshire County Council grant to train his staff in first aid.
He said: “Ella completed her training on Monday. On Friday, she saved a life. That is down to her quick thinking, her courage under fire, her calm level-headedness, her gumption and her heroism. We could not be prouder of her.”
The defibrillator used during the emergency was installed thanks to the fund-raising efforts of the Our Jay Foundation, a charity founded by Rugby woman Naomi Rees-Issitt following the tragic death of her 18-year-old son Jamie Rees.
She said: “David’s experience highlights exactly why we’re working to increase the number of defibrillators available in Rugby town centre.
“We also cannot express highly enough the importance of people like Ella, who used essential life-saving skills to help David and save his life. What an absolute hero she is.”
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman added: “We would like to praise the actions of Ella, who was performing CPR as there is no better sight for our staff to see than someone already providing basic life support on our arrival at a cardiac arrest.
“By having the knowledge of what to do and being prepared to perform CPR, the lady in question undoubtedly played a key part in helping give the man the very best chance of survival. We would encourage everyone to take the time to learn how to do CPR as you never know when it might be your turn to try and save someone’s life.”
