(From the BBC)
London has the best cardiac arrest survival rate in the country, newly-released figures suggest.
During 2011-12, the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate in London was 31.7% - a figure that includes footballer Fabrice Muamba's case.
That compares with second placed East of England with 24.4% and a low of 10.8% in the South Central region.
It is the first time all ambulance services in England have measured the survival rate.
The figures were submitted to the Department of Health for collation.
CARDIAC SURVIVAL RATES BY AMBULANCE SERVICE
London - 31.7%
East of England - 24.7%
North East - 24%
South East Coast - 23.6%
North West - 22.6%
Yorkshire - 20.5%
East Midlands - 20.4%
South Western - 18.7%
West Midlands - 18.3%
Isle of Wight - 17.4%
Great Western - 15.1%
South Central - 10.8%
Source: Ambulance Clinical Quality Indicators
Erica Payet, 25, was one of those who survived cardiac arrest in London.
She was jogging along Bermondsey Street, Southwark, with her boyfriend on a Sunday afternoon in March when she collapsed and stopped breathing.
A passer-by called 999 and motorcycle paramedics were on the scene within five minutes to find bystanders already performing basic life support.
Ambulance staff attached defibrillator pads to Ms Payet and shocked her heart to restart it.
An ambulance crew took Ms Payet to St Thomas' Hospital for further treatment.
She regained consciousness after a week and spent a further two weeks in hospital before being discharged home with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted.
Ms Payet, who is taking a masters degree at King's College University, had no previous history of heart problems and no family history.
She said: "I was really lucky to be in a busy street with medical people around.
The cause of Erica Payet's cardiac arrest remains unknown
"Otherwise I might not be here. They brought me back."
The hospital ran tests, but the cause of her cardiac arrest is unknown.
London Ambulance Service medical director Fiona Moore said: "We are delighted with these figures.
"We've been tracking these figures since 1998 - and when we started the figure was about 4%.
"We've seen a year-on-year improvement, which is fantastic."
South Central Ambulance Service is yet to comment.
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