A FAMILY who almost lost their loved one to a cardiac arrest have spoken of their gratitude to the “absolutely phenomenal” care they have received from hospital staff and the emergency services.

As reported yesterday, Kevin Holborn, 60, suffered a cardiac arrest at the wheel of his campervan while driving his children Dan and Ali home from school.

After Ali reacted to quickly to start CPR, another motorist, Daniel Smith, stopped to help in the A350 Holes Bay Road before the ambulance arrived.

Kevin was rushed to cardiology specialists at Royal Bournemouth Hospital and is making a great recovery on the intensive care unit.

Discussing the care he has received, the father-of-four told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely phenomenal. I don’t care what anybody says, from the minute we came in until now, you are treated so well. Everyone looks after you left, right and centre.

“The things they do for you to make you feel better, it is everything.

“I can’t commend them enough. The hospital have been absolutely fantastic, from the nurses right up to the doctors and past them to the consultants.

“They always remember you. You are not just a number to them. I can’t knock them at all. When it matters and you need help they will be there for you.”

Wife Theresa said she had been overwhelmed by not just the physical health care provided to Kevin, but also the all round emotional and mental support available to her family, including 13-year-old Dan and 15-year-old Ali.

The family were given a diary to take home after Kevin had been admitted to hospital, so they could write down special moments and details for him to read when he woke up from a coma.

Ali, Dan and their older sister Ellie, 22, also got to give their father knitted toys that had been made by hospital volunteers and an identical one each that they could take home.

“It is not just clinical support,” said Theresa.

“Anything they can do to help in a way, they do it.

“We have to sing the praises of everyone, from Daniel, who stopped, the paramedics and the hospital teams because everything has been amazing.”

Daniel Smith, 34, who stopped after seeing Kevin’s campervan at the lights in Holes Bay Road, said he acted instinctively to the situation.

“It all happened so quickly,” said Daniel. “I only did what anyone would do but when I was there others didn’t do it.”

The satellite antenna engineer did not know what had happened to Kevin after he was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

“I got a phone call from a police officer in the end saying Kevin had been saved, which was just unbelievable,” said Daniel.