Essex-Windsor EMS is celebrating survivors of trauma and instances of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
On Friday, Essex-Windsor EMS held the 10th annual Survivor Day at St. Clair College's Centre for the Arts for survivors to share their stories.
It also gave those survivors a chance to reunite with the paramedics, ambulance dispatchers and other first responders or community members who played a role in their survival.
Twenty-five survivors were celebrated this year, as well as 68 paramedics, 40 firefighters, 14 ambulance communications officers, 10 members of the public, five students and three police officers.
One of those survivors, Thomas Boutros, says his co-worker helped him after his heart stopped.
"I was training somebody with medications one minute, and then the next minute apparently I had gone down to the floor and my heart stopped. And, my co-workers contacted EMS, and Jason, my bystander, got down and started doing CPR."
Essex-Windsor EMS held the 10th annual Survivor Day. May 26, 2023 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of AM800's Aaron Mahoney)
He says he's still alive because of the EMS and his co-worker.
"They couldn't have done what they did, unless Jason was there to do what he did, so, I don't know how to thank them."
Boutros says Survivor Day means a lot to him.
"I figured this day was going to be closure for me and I could move on. But, I did have a few setbacks and I'm still on that rollercoaster. But, essentially I'm here, I'm breathing, I'm alive, and not much more you can be thankful for."
Hundreds of personnel, family and supporters turned out to celebrate the positive stories from the past year in Essex County.
-with files from AM800's Aaron Mahoney