Off-duty medic saved the life of rugby player after on-field accident by performing emergency surgery with a kitchen knife

AN OFF-DUTY medic saved the life of a rugby player after an on-field accident by performing emergency surgery with a kitchen knife.

Spectator Bob Coupe ran onto the field when he saw Tom Carus wasn't breathing after he went in for a tackle and tore a major artery during the first match of the season.

The A&E medic discovered no air going into his lungs and every time the sportsman tried to inhale it was causing them to collapse.

As Tom, from Preston, Lancashire, began to lose consciousness, Bob made the swift decision to cut a hole in his chest with a knife to try and release the air.

Bob, who was watching another match on the next pitch at Stonyhurst College in Lancs., said: "I listened to his chest with a stethoscope and he had no air going into his lungs on his right side.

"There was a huge swelling coming up behind the top of his sternum at the bottom of his neck and he was beginning to lose consciousness.

"He was getting worse and worse, it was a horrible situation and as he was losing consciousness it became clear that he was dying."

He said: "Initially I put a cannula in his chest but in the end I had to make a hole with a kitchen knife to release the air and decompress the pressure.

"It's like when you burst a balloon and all this air comes out. It was one of the most horrible things I've ever been involved with."

Bob added: "Because his blood supply to his brain had been cut off, Tom had essentially had a stroke."

In a freak accident the youngster ripped off his innominate artery which carries blood from the heart to the right side of the neck, head, shoulder and arm.

Tom's mum, Sarah Carus was in Ireland at the time of the accident but is hugely thankful for Bob's quick reactions.

Sarah, who has another son, Ben, with husband, Dicken, said: "The injury Tom sustained is extremely rare and it was a miracle Bob was watching another match on the next pitch.

"Bob was selfless and brave and we will be grateful to him for the rest of our lives."

Doctors were worried he may be left with severe brain damage, but he had recovered remarkably and is exactly the same, mentally, as he was prior to the accident.

But Tom will never be able to play rugby again.

Sarah added: "He has had to deal with having to learn to walk, struggling with his speech, swallowing, extreme fatigue and weakness to his left side.

"He has never complained and his determination and positive attitude have been inspirational and his recovery has astonished everyone.

"We are incredibly proud of Tom and his brother who together with our friends and family and been a wonderful support to Tom and ourselves."

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