Heralded as a life-saver, Lewis Sadaoui’s quick-thinking actions ensured his dad survived a heart attack at their home in Whiteley.
Lewis Sadaoui saved his dad Alex’s life
The 11-year-old Hook-with-Warsash student put his newly learned knowledge of basic lifesaving skills to the test when Alex Sadaoui began sweating, vomiting and fainted.
The Year 6 pupil recognised the signs of a heart attack and remained calm while ringing for an ambulance and giving instructions to his mum Mila, 48, and sister Emily, seven, at their home in Bleriot Crescent, Whiteley.
“I’m overwhelmed and so proud that he had done that,” said Dr Sadaoui, 50, who works at an IT company in Bournemouth.
“Thanks to Lewis, who noticed the sweating, the sickness and so on, that gave him enough clues to identify it as a heart attack.
“Everyone was concerned but I kept telling them it’s going to go away. Lewis was advising his mother this wasn’t as simple as that. He said he was going to call 999 and I said it’s absolutely fine, don’t worry about it.
“But I’m glad he did because within three or four minutes the paramedics arrived and diagnosed it as a heart attack.”
He was taken for surgery at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and had a stent inserted where the blockage was. He has since recovered and is now fit and well.
“In my mind I was a bit worried but I tried to keep it in because I didn’t want to make dad worried that he was having a heart attack,” said Lewis.
“Emily helped by shaking and talking to dad when he fainted. Eventually I told dad let’s phone 999.
“I feel proud that I’ve done it and I’m happy for my father that he’s still alive. I’m just really happy that he’s ok and still active and he can carry on with normal life and hopefully other people who have heart attacks will stay alive too.”
The life-changing event has spurred a new mentality and awareness of the disease in the family home, ensuring Dr Sadaoui gets enough rest, doesn’t work too hard, eats more protein-based food like fish for Omega 3 oil and enjoys spending time with the family. He hopes to get back on the playing field with Lewis at ‘Lads and Dads’ football sessions.
Mila, Emily, Lewis and Alex Sadaoui
It was all down to Lewis having recently taken part in HeartStart training in which he had learned how to recognise the signs of a heart attack, including what to look out for and what to do.
The voluntary organisation visited the school to spend time with each class discussing first aid and how to deal with medical emergencies and instructors visit the school every three years to update the children’s knowledge on first aid.
“It makes you change your lifestyle so I make sure I have enough rest and get back to normal with the family,” said Dr Sadaoui. “Lewis managed to finish the year despite what happened, with a lot of courage and calmness. He worked through it really well.
“Hopefully it will encourage others to that they can make a difference and shouldn’t be afraid to face a difficult situation such as this.
“I’m really grateful we’ve got charitable organisations like HeartStart to raise awareness. They’re right to focus on it because it’s the number one killer in the UK and if we can save lives that’s great. They have actually prepared these children for life.
“What’s also important is that Lewis listened to what he was told.”
The school thanked HeartStart’s dedicated team for providing the invaluable service and head teacher Chris Hines added: “It shows this is not simply an activity in its own case and something came from it here.
“In this case the skills he learned enabled him to help his dad. He’s a very calm boy and the next day told the story without any fuss. We’re delighted that he can learn something, but the ability to put it into practice and stay calm is another thing.
“He had the calmness of thought and we’re very proud of him.”