MCL Medics and Spirit Energy today came together to thank MCL Medic Craig Watson for providing lifesaving treatment to a colleague.
In the early hours of Tuesday, 16 July, on the Spirit Energy-operated CPC-1 platform in the East Irish Sea, Craig was asked to see David Holt, 45, who was suffering from chest pain. During the clinical assessment, David went into cardiac arrest. He was rapidly defibrillated by Craig, who managed to return a normal cardiac rhythm and circulation.
While Craig and the MCL Medics team have been hailed heroes for saving David’s life, Craig insists he was simply putting into practice his training and experience. But Craig, who left the NHS 15 years ago to pursue a medical career offshore, says it was also a reminder of how fragile life can be, and the importance of getting the right medical care at the right time.
Craig said, “Having left the NHS in 2009, I knew that working remotely would be completely different from anything I had previously experienced. In a challenging offshore environment, there are potential risks we have to deal with every day.
“I have dealt with trauma cases, acute medical conditions and most recently, the COVID pandemic – each uniquely challenging in their own respect. I am very well supported by MCL Medics and part of an excellent team.
“David’s medical emergency will remain with me for the rest of my life – thankfully, my training and experience enabled me to assess the situation and deliver the correct treatment quickly.”
David, a Level 3 Rope Access Inspector on CPC-1, says, “The role of an offshore medic is one that ultimately saved my life – I can’t thank Craig enough for what he did for me that day – and MCL Medics. My family and I are forever grateful.”
Every year, the MCL team provides lifesaving treatment and procedures to people who work offshore. These skilled individuals, many with extensive experience working with the NHS and the armed forces, provide round-the-clock medical support.
The title of Offshore Medic is a protected title under the UK Government’s regulated professions register. Only individuals holding a current Offshore Medic certificate can act in that role. As such, Offshore Medics possess core skills allied to medicine or nursing to enable them to treat workers who are ill or injured offshore.
Spirit Energy CEO, Neil McCulloch, said: “For those of us who have worked offshore or in an operational environment, we know the importance of working together as a team and of being able to rely on the men and women around us.
“Our medical colleagues are an integral part of the team at all of our sites, and Craig’s actions demonstrated just how crucial their role is. We wish David all the very best with his recovery and would like to thank Craig for coming to the rescue.”
Richard O’Donnell, CEO and founder of MCL Medics says, “I am extremely proud of all of our Offshore Medics and Remote Medical Services team who train and support our offshore medics every hour, every day, every year. Craig was called on to deal with a real life-threatening emergency. He acted, and the outcome for the patient and his family was what everyone hoped for in that situation.
“I would also like to thank our client partner Spirit Energy and their team, who supported Craig. MCL Medics has a long working relationship with Spirit Energy, and working in partnership, as this incident evidenced, is critical for the health and wellbeing of employees.”
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