Ian Smith, 71, of Fressingfield, was plunged into anaphylaxis shock after being stung by a hornet hidden inside a pair of jeans as he was getting dressed on Friday afternoon.
Mr Smith, a father of three and grandfather of six, said: “For the first two or three minutes it wasn’t too bad, but then it started to get worse. I got pain all over my body and was trembling. Time was essential.”
Mary, his wife of 46 years, rushed him to Fressingfield Medical Centre, just minutes away from their home at Tithe Farm, where Mr Smith was born and raised and still lives today.
He collapsed at the surgery’s entrance at around 5.30pm and receptionist Heather Sharpe rushed to get nurses and doctors to his aid.
Their quick action meant he was being treated within 10 minutes of being stung. Had it happened just one hour later, the surgery would have been closed.
As soon as he was brought face to face with the people who saved his life yesterday, including Dr James Mackay and nurse practitioners Cathy Tooley and Vicky Goddard, he pulled them into an emotional embrace and said: “I can’t thank you enough. It’s a real blessing. Thank you for everything that you did.”
They administered adrenaline and kept Mr Smith comfortable until an ambulance arrived around 40 minutes later.
“You just go into professional mode,” said Mrs Pooley. “You do what you need to do.
“I was just so thankful that he had come to us and we had been able to help him.
“I have worked here for 37 years and this is the first time I have seen an anaphylaxis shock.”
Ms Goddard, who joined the surgery this month after working as an accident and emergency nurse at Ipswich Hospital, said: “I went into A&E mode. I felt like we couldn’t have done a better job. I went home and thought ‘I saved someone’s life tonight’. That was a really nice feeling.”
Mr Smith added: “I’m just so relieved, not only for myself but for my family.
“I felt myself slipping away three times. The third time was the worst. I thought ‘I’m now going to go’.
“They saved my life. I collapsed literally on their doorstep and they treated me. I’ve been told that they only just got to me in time.
“I’m just so grateful. I’m not even one of their patients, but I will be from now on.”
He was taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for further treatment and was discharged the following day, with an adrenalin pen to carry with him at all times should he be stung again.
What is anaphylactic shock?
Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response which can cause swelling, rashes, lowered blood pressure and dilated blood vessels and can make a person go into shock.
If anaphylactic shock is not treated immediately, it can be fatal.
Anaphylaxis is the result of the body’s immune system over-reacting to a harmless substance, with the most common triggers being insect stings, nuts, milk, seafood and medicines such as antibiotics.
Anaphylaxis usually develops within minutes of contact with an allergen, but can happen up to four hours later.
Dr James Mackay, who helped to save Mr Smith’s life, added: “Anaphylaxis is rare, thankfully, but when it does happen it’s life and death and it does come on extremely quickly.
“You need to get adrenaline as soon as possible to stall the reaction.”
An ambulance should be called immediately if someone is suspected to be in shock.
Some people with a history of anaphylaxis will have an auto-injector of adrenaline.
This should be injected into their outer thigh muscle and held in place for five to 10 seconds.
If after five to 10 minutes the person still feels unwell, a second injection should be given in the opposite thigh.
Practice nurse Cathy Tooley added: “To have an anaphylaxis reaction you have to have been exposed to that substance before.”
Dr Christopher Browning, Long Melford GP and chairman of the West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “In the majority of cases bites and stings do not lead to such a reaction and can be treated at home with an antihistamine spray or cream on the affected area to prevent itching and swelling.
He added: “If you know from experience you are likely to react in an extreme way, then do take precautions, as advised by your clinician.”
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