15. What Did He Know?

“Came into an early shift and was handed over a patient who’d been very anxious and had a panic attack overnight. He was anxious all morning but OBS all fine, ECG fine and so I just asked someone to sit with him to keep an eye on him/reassure him for me. He gets worse, really panicky, heavy breathing, he’s on his side in the fetal position. Doctors will be in in 10 minutes so I tell him I’ll get them to him as soon as they come in, but I ask if he’ll lie on his back for me to help his breathing.

He tells me he won’t make it until they get here and that he won’t face the other way. OBS still all fine at this point but he’s more agitated so again I suggest he move position for comfort and that’s when he says ‘I won’t make it until the Doctors get here. If I turn to face the other way I’ll die.’ He repeated this a few times to me.

He arrested literally as the Doctors walked in and he died on the side he’d been refusing to turn to. I’m convinced he knew.”