Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: – Got cardiac arrest:

After a visit to the cabin by the Drammensfjord in mid-July, Frank Guneriussen (64) decided to cycle home to Reistad outside Lierbyen.

The route of about 35 kilometers includes what he characterizes as a “fairly hard” hill. The cycling enthusiast stayed on the bike seat all the way up, before rolling down to the petrol station at Klokkarstua in Hurumlandet to fill the drinking bottle with water.

– On the way out, I noticed that I was dizzy, and supported myself on one of the shelves. After that, everything is black for me, Guneriussen says to Dagbladet.

The next thing he remembers is that his wife visited him at Rikshospitalet about seven hours later. At the gas station he had had a cardiac arrest. He himself believes that the effort in the hard ground may have been triggering.

– In the light of hindsight, I should have taken it a little calmer. I was cold in the body and was not prepared for such a violent rise.

– Fantastic

In the hospital record, Guneriussen could read what had happened in the minutes after he collapsed. In anticipation of the ambulance, two other customers are said to have given him cardiac compressions, while a third ensured free airways and followed the pulse.

– It’s absolutely fantastic. One thing is that I was in a place where there were several people, but that these took active ownership of the body that was lying on the floor – and with which they did not get in touch – is absolutely crucial.

The 64-year-old has had a strong desire to get in touch with the three who he believes were crucial for him to be alive now. After he published a wanted ad on Facebook, he has been able to talk to two of them.

Job mode

One of those who helped save Guneriussen’s life was Ann Kristin Halvorsen. She was going on holiday with the children when the incident occurred.

– I do not remember everything that happened. One turns in a way off parts of the brain. What I remember very well, however, is that Frank was behind my daughter and me in the queue for the toilet. I thought it looked like he was not quite in shape. Then it was a very short time before he fell over, she tells Dagbladet.

Halvorsen works daily as a conductor, and explains that she immediately went into a kind of work mode.

– You get a little insecure there and then. You do not want to make a drama, but there was no doubt. I asked one of the staff to call the ambulance several times.

– Quite dramatic

Shortly afterwards, she received help from Even Stavnes. He had stopped by the gas station to buy some food.

– The toilet door was open and on the floor there was a lifeless man. It was quite dramatic, says Stavnes.

He estimates that it took about ten minutes before the emergency services arrived.

– I have never been involved in anything like this before, but we could not do anything other than start with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Knowing that he is alive today is a great feeling.

– Nice to hear the voice

Halvorsen explains that for a while after the ambulance arrived at the scene, she was very excited about whether Guneriussen would survive.

– You often hear that things go wrong. It was a strong experience, but when one of the ambulance workers approached me and told me that it had gone well, I was very relieved.

On Thursday, she talked to the 64-year-old herself.

– I have wondered how it has gone with him afterwards, so it was very nice to hear his voice.

The 64-year-old is also happy to have spoken to two of the lifeguards.

– It was fantastic to be able to track them down, and thank them for acting. I am very grateful for that, but I would have liked to have gotten in touch with the last person as well.

Will return to the bike seat

Guneriussen has mostly spent the rest of the summer holidays in the hospital, until he was discharged on Saturday last week. He has undergone bypass heart surgery and had a pacemaker installed.

– I feel that I have been beaten a little, but I am not in pain anywhere.

He has been an active cyclist in recent years, summer and winter, since he was bitten by the bacillus at the end of 2012. Since then, he has cycled Lillehammer – Oslo and “Birken” a number of times.

– The doctors have been concerned that I will return to the bike, but I probably think that it will last for the rest of the year. I will not rush back too fast, but take it in small steps. I have faith that I will cycle again next year, but if I will participate in rides I am unsure, says the 64-year-old.

Guneriussen was actually to take part in this year’s Birkebeinerritt, which kicks off at the end of August.

– I have faith that I will cycle again next year, but if I will participate in rides I am unsure.

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