Well, I made it - it's my 2nd re-birthday! It was on this day in 2021 that I had a cardiac arrest. I was wild swimming in the lovely Beckenham Place Park lake when my heart started going into a dangerously fast arrhythmia but due to speedy action by lifeguards and the ambulance crew I got to hospital by the time my heart stopped. Having been healthy and fairly fit, this was a shock for everyone.

My cardiac arrest was caused by a virus, which has left me with heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. I look the same but I feel very different and Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK has helped a great deal. It is a new charity set up by survivors (led by Paul Swindell) to help with the considerable physical, emotional and mental impact. It provides great peer support and resources, and builds awareness of sudden cardiac arrest - and importantly how to save lives through CPR and defibrillators. Only 10% of people who have a cardiac arrest survive.

Oli, one of my sons, has supported my fundraising by cycling 100 miles in Ride London 2023.  Bravo!