Understand
Gym worker saves customer's life with 26 minutes of CPR in Bournemouth
Overview
A 25-year-old gym worker named Tom Guest successfully performed CPR for 26 minutes on 63-year-old Pete Tonkin after Tonkin suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while jogging at a gym in Bournemouth in February 2025. Guest used chest compressions and a defibrillator before paramedics arrived. Tonkin has fully recovered, nominated Guest for a Royal Humane Society award, and the pair recently attended an event to promote CPR training.
Key points
- Pete Tonkin, 63, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while jogging at a Bournemouth gym in February 2025.
- Gym worker Tom Guest, 25, performed CPR and used a defibrillator for 26 minutes until paramedics arrived.
- Guest stated he went into automatic, robotic mode during the emergency, relying on his training.
- Tonkin has fully recovered, praised Guest's actions, and nominated him for a Royal Humane Society award.
- The pair recently attended a training awareness event organised by University Hospitals Dorset.