I am lucky to be here.

I had a "widowmaker" heart attack in 2024 at the age of 35. I collapsed in front on my then 3 year old son and went into cardiac arrest. Nav, my wife, gave me CPR whilst paramedics arrived. My heart stopped for around 20 minutes and it took 7 shocks with a defibrillator to get my heart going again. Less than 10% of people survive a cardiac arrest outside of hospital. The odds of surviving a widowmaker heart attack are similarly low. I am one of the lucky few.

I have gone on to make a good recovery and have received fantastic support from those around me and organisations such as the BHF.

When I left hospital, I was fragile, both physically and emotionally. My confidence was low and I was anxious about the future for me and my family.

The BHF gave me hope for the future and helped me understand what had happened to my body. They provide information you can trust, share stories from those living with heart issues and give tips on nutrition and fitness.

The BHF also teach people CPR through their RevivR app. The course takes 15 minutes and can be done off your phone. Nav giving me CPR saved my life - I would encourage everyone to take the time to learn this vital skill.

Without work done by organisations such as the BHF, my outcome could have been very different. I am grateful that I have been given a second chance at life and get to continue enjoy special moments with Nav, and my five year-old son, Nihal. As we looked towards the future, Nav and I decided to have another child and we welcomed our daughter Pari into the world in January.

Last summer, I taught Nihal how to ride his bike. I struggled to keep up with him on foot and so ended up buying my own bike, having not cycled for years. When I saw this event, I thought I would challenge myself and use it to give something back by raising some money for the BHF.

Funds raised will go towards vital research, education and support for those affected by heart conditions.

Any support is very gratefully received and will help save lives and improve the quality of life for heart patients and their families.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Harj