Patient 'successfully revived' after suspected cardiac arrest in Kilkenny
A Kilkenny patient has made a full recovery after volunteer first responders raced to his aid and began CPR following a suspected cardiac arrest
A patient in Kilkenny has made a full recovery after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest, following a rapid response by volunteers who began CPR before an ambulance arrived.
The lifesaving intervention came shortly after the newly formed CRITICAL Kilkenny Community First Responder (CFR) group became operational in February 2026.
Two volunteers were called to the emergency in a rural area and commenced CPR before National Ambulance Service personnel reached the scene.
“Through this collaborative response, the patient was successfully revived at the scene,” said Paul O’Carroll, co-ordinator of the group.
“Following treatment and ongoing care in hospital, the patient made a full recovery and has since returned to living a healthy and fulfilling life.”
The case highlights the potentially lifesaving impact of having trained responders based within local communities, particularly in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives.
The CRITICAL Kilkenny CFR group has 16 trained volunteers responding to cardiac arrests and other life-threatening emergencies within a 10km radius of Kilkenny City.
The group began responding to emergencies following more than six months of training and attended 12 calls in its first month alone.
Mr O’Carroll stressed that Community First Responders do not replace the ambulance service, but provide an important local response while National Ambulance Service crews are on their way.
“Because CFR volunteers are based within their local communities, they can often reach a patient more quickly than an ambulance that may be responding from a greater distance,” he said.
“Community First Responders are not a replacement for ambulance services; we complement and support the National Ambulance Service by providing an immediate local response.”
When a 999 or 112 call is received by the NAS, nearby CFR volunteers are alerted simultaneously through a dedicated app. They can perform CPR, use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and provide other lifesaving interventions before ambulance crews arrive.
“Volunteers may attend anywhere from three call-outs per week to three call-outs per day during periods of increased demand,” Mr O’Carroll said.
The voluntary group is funded through fundraising, donations, grants and local business support, with continued investment required for equipment and training.