Four years after suffering a major heart attack that nearly cost him his life, and saw him clinically dead three times, Barry is still thanking his paramedic saviours.

“I thought I had indigestion and I went to bed but it got worse and finally I felt I was drifting. That was when I saw Jennifer sitting next to me saying lovely things and Steve standing at the end of the bed holding the crash paddles.”

Paramedic Steve Marks recalls that Barry was having a heart attack while they were there.

“They got me sorted and into the ambulance and straight to Pambula Hospital at 1am in the morning,” Barry said.

“I was in Pambula for nearly a week before heading to Canberra for an angiogram and while I was there, my artery started to burst and I ended up ‘dying’ three times that day”.

Finally Barry was stabilised, further diagnosed with diabetes and told to lose weight and get fitter or else.

He took the advice “to heart” and is now a role model for others in a similar situation.

But it all would have been for nothing but for paramedics Steve and Jennifer.

“Steve’s my saviour and Jennifer’s my angel,” Barry said.

“I’m lucky to be alive. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be here today to see my gorgeous grand-kids.”

Today, Thursday November 20, 2008 marks the first annual Ambulance “Thank a Paramedic” day.

On this day each year, communities and individuals will have their chance to thank our dedicated and hardworking paramedics.

For the Eden ambulance crew of Steve Marks, Jennifer Stewart and John Scoonderwaldt, the day won’t be much different to any other as they are always on call and unable to take time out to celebrate.

“We don’t look for thank-yous, but if one comes along, we are more than happy to accept it,” Steve Marks said.