St John Ambulance
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Real life stories

The stories of our amazing St John people and the communities they've helped.

First aid saves lives

St John people make a positive impact every day, responding to emergencies, supporting communities and saving lives. Read our amazing stories from patients and volunteers.

Latest stories

A photograph of Ross Comer smiling to camera.

Ross' story

I couldn't just do nothing

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A photograph of Shaun Cardwell wearing a lab coat and smiling at the camera.

Shaun's story

I've always loved helping people

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All stories

Stories from our volunteers, patients and members of the public.

A photograph of Ross Comer smiling to camera.

Ross' story

I couldn't just do nothing

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A photograph of Shaun Cardwell wearing a lab coat and smiling at the camera.

Shaun's story

I've always loved helping people

Learn More about Shaun's story
A photograph of Phil Lloyd (left) and James Berry (right) standing together on a construction site. Both men are wearing hi-vis vests and hard hats, and are smiling at the camera.

James' story

I started feeling like I couldn’t do it anymore

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A photograph of Yasmin at a work event. She is sitting at a table and smiling to camera. In the background are banners advertising recruitment.

Yasmin's story

Talking to me was an outlet for his feelings

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Millie Lockwood wearing her Cadet First Aider uniform standing in front of the Drax Club.

Millie's story

Immediately my first aid training kicked in

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A photograph of Gwen and John in their garden. Gwen is hugging John from behind and they're both laughing.

I was able to do something and not just freeze

Gwen Turner gave her husband John, then 71, life-saving CPR when he suffered a cardiac arrest at their Wolverhampton home in 2020.

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A photograph of Mary talking to a patient in a vaccination centre. She is wearing a St John Ambulance t-shirt and a face mask.

'Calm, reassuring – I felt safe’: helping to vaccinate the nation

Hear how volunteers have sacrificed their time to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19.

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A photo of Emma smiling.

I knew my Mum would have wanted me to continue helping to train others

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Anna Watkins posing for a picture.

Anna's story

I just want to do something practical to help

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A photograph of Beth and her nephew Roland. They are both smiling at the camera and Beth is holding open a large picture book.

Beth's story

I cannot imagine how terrible it would be if I hadn't been there

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A photograph of Caspar standing in the street, with his hands clasped in front of him.

Caspar's story

Holding the hand of a patient as they died when their family couldn’t be with them is something I will never ever forget.

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A photograph of Claire standing in front of a house, wearing a lab coat and gloves.

Claire's story

I’m very keen to do anything I can to help get us out of the mess we’re in

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Danny and Suzanne stood next to each other and smiling at the camera.

Our intervention saved her life

Danny was holding the door open for his colleague when she turned grey and collapsed in front of him. She was unresponsive and struggling to breathe.  

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A photograph of Dylan and his mum. Dylan's wearing his St John uniform.

Without St John, my mum wouldn’t be here anymore

Dylan, 15, saved his mum’s life when she suddenly collapsed at home.

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A photograph of Eve sitting at an outdoor table at a pub.

Eve's story

I could have died that night

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A photograph of Holly on a stretcher. She is wearing running gear and covered in a light sheet. A St John volunteer is attending to her.

Holly's story

My brain just wasn’t functioning

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A photograph of Jayden in her St John uniform hugging her mum, Tash.

Jayden's story

Living my dreams and passions

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A photograph of Judith looking confidently into the camera.

Jude's story

Thank goodness for the St John Ambulance training I received

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A photograph of Kate* sitting down and staring at the camera. She is wearing a pink, stripey top and a green beanie.

Kate's story

It was like an out of body experience

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A collage of photos of different people running the London Marathon for St John. They are all wearing St John running vests and smiling.

Ask us why we ran for St John

Meet our amazing St John runners for London Marathon 2021

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A photograph of Paul (left) and Mark (right) standing in a warehouse. Mark has his arm around Paul.

Mark's story

I thought I’d lost him

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A photograph of Mary talking to a patient in a vaccination centre. She is wearing a St John Ambulance t-shirt and a face mask.

Mary's story

It never feels like a sacrifice

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A photograph of Mary standing outside and laughing with a group of other St John Ambulance Cadets and volunteers.

Mary's story

Ask me how I keep you safe on bonfire night

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A photograph of Mausum smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses and a pink overshirt.

Mausum's story

Being able to deliver the vaccine is a way to bring the world one step closer to the one we recognised before

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A photograph of Muni standing in her front garden, wearing PPE and holding a briefcase.

Muni's story

We’re in a national crisis and I’m in a position to do something to help

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A photograph of Nia in her garden and wearing PPE. She is in a wheelchair and holding a basketball.

Nia's story

I won't take no for an answer

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A photograph of Anne-Marie and her son, George, smiling and hugging in their garden.

Anne-Marie's story

For an eight-year-old to be able to do that is amazing

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A photograph of Peter Batey in a white t-shirt, standing in the street and smiling at the camera.

Peter's story

I saved a life because I knew first aid

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A photograph of Prince Tandukar and Paul Archre sitting outside, next to each other on some stone steps. Prince is wearing his St John Ambulance uniform.

Prince's story

I desperately wanted to save Mr Archer

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A photograph of Iceland executive Richard Walker running the London Marathon.

Richard's story

Thank God they were there

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A photograph of Olivia and Gary Pitfield smiling in a garden. Gary has his arm around Olivia.

Gary's story

Everyone should know basic CPR – it saves lives

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A photograph of Leah Weenen, her baby, Cayden, and husband Charlie Abel, smiling to camera and wearing matching 'Mama' and 'Dada' t-shirts.

Leah's story

My first aid course saved my baby’s life

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Have you been helped by us?

If you've been helped by us, we 'd love to hear from you.

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A photograph of a St John volunteer attending to a member of the public.