– It is difficult to say anything in words. Here I stand thanks to you. You did everything right at the right time. Thank you very much. I am eternally grateful that I am alive, says Elisabeth Bjerknes.
– DRAMATIC: Elisabeth Bjerknes had a cardiac arrest while sitting on a motorcycle. Photo: Arne Rovick / TV 2
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She herself does not remember any of what happened that day and until she woke up in the hospital.
Now she and her cohabitant Arve have been visited in the yard at home at Myrbostad in Hustadvika municipality in Møre og Romsdal by Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell and Unn Cathrin Hustad. Together with several others, they helped save the life of the 53-year-old.
Here she hears the dramatic story of the lifeguards.
– Arve has told me many times what happened. It is strong and difficult to hear, but at the same time good therapy for me.
Here you can see the tearful encounter with the rescue heroes:
An incredible combination of knowledge, coincidence and luck meant that the evening trip on a motorcycle on April 22 did not have a fatal outcome. It was the local newspaper Bygdebladet that first mentioned this case.
On the way home from Atlanterhavsveien, Arve discovers via the internal connection between him and Elisabeth that something is seriously wrong with the cohabitant.
– I hear her say “no no” and see in the mirror that she is some distance behind me. I slow down, and then she comes up the side and continues the journey straight into the ditch, Arve tells about the drama at Kolmannskog on county road 663 near Farstad.
He opens the visor of her helmet. The large pupils on Elisabeth tell him that this is very serious. The cohabitant has had a cardiac arrest.
Arve tries to get her helmet off, but is unable to loosen the strap in the stress and chaos that prevails in his head.
– The more I tried, the more the strap on the helmet lock tightened, says Arve Myrbostad.
Powerful compression
On her way to the ditch, Elisabeth is about to crash with a motorcyclist who comes across. It is Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell. He sees in the mirror what is happening, and immediately turns to help. It will be crucial to save her life.
– I see the panic in Arve’s eyes. Then I realize that I have this in my pocket, says Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell and shows the knife.
Together, they get cut off the strap and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 113 is informed that there is neither pulse nor breathing. For at least 16 minutes, we work continuously with CPR until the emergency services are on site: Arve, Per Olav and others who come to assist in the life-saving first aid work.
– THE RESCUE: Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell with the knife which together with cardiopulmonary resuscitation helped to save the life of Elisabeth Bjerknes. Photo: Private
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– I knew we had to work hard for the compression to have an effect, says Arve.
– We heard that ribs cracked, but the alternative was worse. You can not be afraid of hurting someone when you do cardiopulmonary resuscitation, says Per Olav to TV 2.
He has solid training in CPR through both the military, offshore courses and through industrial protection in the workplace.
– Now I really got the use of the knowledge and training I have had on the dolls, says the lifeguard.
– THE HEROES: Elisabeth Bjerknes saved her life thanks to the heroes Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell (fv), cohabitant Arve Myrbostad and Unn Cathrin Hustad (right) who all knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Photo: Arne Rovick / TV 2
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– There was a good bunch who worked there and who were incredibly good. I want to brag about those at AMK who were calm and cheered on us, says Unn Cathrin Hustad who was also involved in the rescue work.
Everything clapped
As soon as the ambulance arrived at the scene with defibrillators, they started Elisabeth’s heart. Arve was left crushed.
– I thought she’s dying now. This was the last I saw of her. I called my friends and told them that Elisabeth was dying.
But Elisabeth did not want to die. She was transported by air ambulance to St. Olav’s hospital in Trondheim. Three days later she woke up, and on May 12, she was discharged from the hospital.
– With each passing day, it becomes clearer to me how lucky I have been. Everything clapped. The right people came to the place at the right time. I have had the roughest luck in the world, the 53-year-old concludes.
According to the Norwegian cardiac arrest register, in 2020 more than 4,200 people had cardiac arrest outside a hospital. 85 percent of these received cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately.
– DEMO: Anesthesiologist Christopher Bjerkvig at the air ambulance and Haukeland hospital shows correct CPR on an Anna doll. Photo: Ivar Lid Riise / TV 2
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– It is at the very top of the world. But that does not mean that we can not get better, says anesthesiologist Christopher Bjerkvig on the air ambulance at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen.
He has the following picture of how important this is:
– It is not useful with a helicopter for 80 million kroner and an ambulance call if the first effort has not been made. We are completely dependent on people starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the first minutes until we arrive, says Bjerkvig.
To perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation:
Elisabeth sends first and foremost thanks to her cohabitant Arve:
– COHABITANTS: Arve Myrbostad is happy that cohabitant Elisabeth Bjerknes survived the cardiac arrest. Photo: Arne Rovick / TV 2
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– I have said it to him many times: Imagine that you saved my life with resolute cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Arve. Thought you did! If it were not for your efforts, I would not be here today. I’m incredibly grateful. It is difficult to describe in words that I can sit here and be the same as before, says Elisabeth.
The cohabiting couple cannot stress enough the importance of being able to provide first aid once the accident has occurred.
– It is not a matter of hesitation. Do not stand and watch. Do what you can. And preferably, anyone with a driver’s license should be able to do this. Everyone who drives along the road must be able to CPR, Arve believes.
– To do something is better than to do nothing. Only people do the best they can, then it’s good enough, emphasizes Per Olav Vestavik Tverrfjell.
– MC-PAR: Arve Myrbostad and Elisabeth Bjerknes. Photo: Private
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No fear
Now Elisabeth is looking forward to getting her driver’s license back and getting on her new Scrambler Ducati.
– I have had a pacemaker operated on with a pacemaker that stabilizes the heart rhythm and gets it going again if it stops. Now I’m just looking forward to getting out on two wheels again. I’m not afraid to ride a motorcycle, says Elisabeth.
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