08/01/2026
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A Cork paramedic who resuscitated her partner after he suffered a cardiac arrest is launching a new training service to help others.
Helena Kiely and Mark O’Keeffe went to bed as normal this time last year, but at 4.44am, Helena woke up to find Mark (48) sitting at the edge of the bed, gasping for breath.
Mark collapsed on the floor, and when Helena checked for a pulse, she didn’t find one. After she rang 999, Helena, who is an off-duty responder with the National Ambulance Service, got her own kit bag and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) from the car and started working on Mark.
She was assisted by the Carrigaline First Responders and crews from the National Ambulance Service with advanced paramedics on board, and at that point, Mark “came back”, much to Helena’s relief.
Mark was rushed to hospital and has thankfully made a full recovery. He is very grateful to Helena and to all the first responders, paramedics and CUH staff involved in saving his life and his subsequent recovery.
Helena has since left the ambulance service, and, wanting to give something back, she and Mark have just launched their own business called Echo Training Solutions to educate people in life-saving techniques.
Read their story at the link in our bio or online here: https://allaboutcork.ie/paramedic-who-saved-her-partners-life-during-a-cardiac-arrest-helps-others-to-learn-life-saving-skills/
National Ambulance Service (NAS)
