Peter, a 64-year-old runner from Leicester, suffered a cardiac arrest during a 10K race earlier this year. Known for his regular participation in local park runs, Peter had previously experienced a minor heart attack five years ago but had been cleared to continue running.
“I was a bit nervous because I hadn’t done a 10K since last year, but I felt fine at the start,” Peter said. He completed the first kilometer at his usual pace, but soon after, he began to struggle. “I wasn’t feeling chest pain, but I just couldn’t run. I kept having to walk, which was unusual for me.”
By the time he reached the 4K mark, Peter’s memory became hazy. Unknown to him, he had suffered a heart attack that led to a cardiac arrest, and he collapsed on the course. A fellow runner and midwife who had been pacing behind him, noticed and immediately began performing CPR. “She reached me within seconds and found I had no pulse,” Peter said.
Paramedics arrived within minutes, delivering the first shock to his chest just two minutes after his collapse. Dr. Matthew Woods, a consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine in Leicester and a volunteer with the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (EMICS), joined the emergency response team. Dr. Woods advanced medical expertise was critical in managing Peter’s condition, including initiating a medically induced coma on the scene to stabilise Peter before transporting him to Leicester Glenfield Hospital.
At the hospital, doctors performed a ‘percutaneous coronary intervention’ (PCI), using a balloon to remove a blood clot that had formed across a previous stent.
While the physical recovery was fast, Peter faced a significant psychological impact. “Physically, I recovered quickly, but mentally, it took a lot longer to accept what had happened. I always thought I was fit for my age, so this really shook me,” he said. “You don’t realise the mental toll until you experience it. You think you’re improving, but then you have a bad day—not physically, but mentally. It’s unsettling.”
Reflecting on the incident, Peter expressed his gratitude to those who saved his life. “I’m one of the lucky ones—only about 8% of people survive something like this. I’m so thankful to the midwife who started CPR, the paramedics, and Dr. Woods. It’s not just the people on the scene, but also the medical team who were called in on a Sunday to perform the procedure. They saved my life.”
He added, “If this had happened at home or if I’d been running alone, I might not have survived. It’s a reminder of how fragile life can be, and how important it is to be surrounded by people who know what to do in an emergency.”
To ensure that such life-saving interventions can continue, community support is crucial. Donations help EMICS maintain the readiness and equipment necessary for critical incidents like Peter’s. Every contribution supports our volunteer doctors, who dedicate their lives to saving others. Donate today to help us keep our community safe: Donate to EMICS.
