Remarkable’ Carer Receives Special Award After ‘Saving Bournemouth Woman’s Life’
A carer has been recognised after performing CPR for 25 minutes on a Bournemouth woman who had gone into cardiac arrest.
Stacey Burch, who works in Care South at Home’s Bournemouth office, was presented with a HEART Excellence Award at the not-for-profit charity’s 17th annual Stars Awards. Stacey received a standing ovation from her colleagues as she accepted her award from Chris Kean, Chair of Care South, and Martin Ross, Director of Care South at Home.
Stacey was working out in the community earlier this year when she was flagged down by a shopkeeper on Columbia Road in Bournemouth to support Carole Knight, who had gone into cardiac arrest. Stacey sprang into action, performing CPR on Carole for 25 minutes until the paramedics arrived and took over.
Stacey said: “I was so grateful to have the right training through my work because I was able to put it into practice straight away, and I later found out that I had helped to save Carole’s life. It made me realise why all the training we do is so important and why I do this job, as it enables me to make a difference to others when they need it most.”
After reuniting following the incident, Stacey and Carole were brought together again at the Stars Awards in a particularly special moment, where they sat together throughout the event. Carole was then invited to the stage to help present Stacey with her award.
Carole said: “Stacey saved my life and without her help, I wouldn’t be here today. I knew nothing about what was happening as I had collapsed and Stacey gave me CPR for 25 minutes. I am so thrilled that she has been recognised. What she did was remarkable. It took me a long while to get over it, I’m getting through it and I’m grateful for life. I owe this all to Stacey.”
New for this year, Care South introduced a new category within the Stars Awards called the HEART Excellence Awards, which recognised staff who go above and beyond in exemplifying Care South’s HEART values of honesty, excellence, approach, respect and teamwork.
Martin Ross, Director of Care South at Home, said: “Stacey’s actions were truly exceptional. What makes them even more remarkable is that she went straight back to work after helping Carole, and it was only later that we found out what she had done. We are extremely proud of Stacey and the difference she made that day. She thoroughly deserves this recognition and is a wonderful example of the HEART values that we uphold across Care South.”
Stacey later returned to the Stars Awards stage with her colleagues from Care South at Home’s Bournemouth office, where the team were presented with the Care South at Home Office of the Year 2026 award. The team were recognised for their hard work supporting clients across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and the wider Dorset area, with a particular focus on how they help people discharged from hospital to return safely to living independently at home.
