‘It brought back some powerful memories’: Twins who are paramedics save man from heart attack

Twins who work for the London Ambulance Service saved the life of a man in cardiac arrest.

Angela and Steve Mills, 51, from Bexleyheath, were called to an incident where a man had fallen over, but soon after arriving it was clear that the patient’s heart had stopped beating.

Angie, who had previously only instructed people to do chest compressions over the phone, delivered lifesaving CPR, while Steve and his crewmate focused on giving the patient oxygen.

Due to the quick and coordinated operation, the man was revived and began talking again, despite having no heartbeat for five minutes.

Angie said: “I initially just got on with the CPR. It wasn’t until we were driving to hospital that I reflected on what I’d just done.

“I started thinking about how things can change so quickly, and in a matter of minutes you can switch between life, death, and again, life.”

The incident felt particularly close to home for the twins. Angie and Steve lost their dad Hugh Mills to cardiac arrest when he was 61, a similar age to the man they brought back to life together.

Angie said: “The man we saved was relatively young. And because he was of similar age to our dad when he passed away, it brought back some powerful memories.

“I thought about the fact that my dad didn’t get to enjoy retirement. He was still working when he passed.

“It made me think about how precious life is and how I should enjoy it more. Take every opportunity that you’ve got, don’t put things off.”

Hugh Mills passed away 21 years ago, before Angie and Steve had both joined the London Ambulance Service. At the time, Angie was working in a bank and Steve was a builder.

Steve said: “When the paramedics were with my dad, I was there the whole time and I couldn’t help him. He received by-stander CPR from a police officer who lived nearby, but unfortunately, he still didn’t make it.” 

“When I first started my job I always dreaded getting sent to a cardiac arrest. 

“I didn’t know how I would cope with that type of job because of the way my dad had died.

“Now, I am more confident as I know that I will try my absolute hardest to save that person.”

Angie and Steve both said that saving a life together was definitely an extraordinary achievement which would make their dad proud.

Angie said: “It feels even more special because I was doing it with Steve.

“My CPR was so effective also because I felt so comfortable doing it next to my brother, and we are so close.”

Pictured Top: Steve and Angie Mills at work (Picture: London Ambulance Service)