A teenager whose life was preserved by paramedics through CPR has expressed his desire to see this essential skill incorporated into the curriculum of schools in London.

In May, 17-year-old Ollie Rosenwould was sent home from his sixth form in Dagenham, East London, feeling unwell as he prepared for his A-levels. After a period of rest, he informed his mother that he required an ambulance and then collapsed due to a cardiac arrest.

A paramedic arrived swiftly, administering CPR and saving his life. Recently, they demonstrated these life-saving techniques during a session at the Jo Richardson Community School, where Ollie had the opportunity to express his gratitude.

Ollie shared with BBC London that he is “living proof that it can occur to anyone, anywhere,” and he advocates for CPR training to be made compulsory in schools.

After spending 22 days in the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with a Bilateral Tension Pneumothorax.

His mother, Donna, recounted to the Resuscitation Council UK in October that the image of her son receiving CPR on the day of his collapse is something she will “never be able to un-see,” but she acknowledges that “he wouldn’t be alive today, with a promising future, without the intervention of the paramedics.”

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is currently running a program that teaches life-saving techniques to students across schools.

Paramedic Sam Palfrey Jones noted that nearly 20,000 students from more than 200 schools in London have received this vital training.

She remarked, “It’s incredible. We need to educate children because they are at an age where they can share this knowledge with their families and friends, ensuring they retain these skills for a lifetime.”