Save a life like Sarah's this Heart Month

Sarah Edmonds knows all too well the importance of CPR. The mum-of-one, who lives near Brighton, had a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed in her then three-year-old daughter’s bedroom in December 2020.  

Luckily, her husband James was in the house and rushed to her aid, calling 999 and performing CPR for 20 minutes helping to keep his wife alive, until paramedics arrived to take over. 

Sarah, who was 31 at the time of her cardiac arrest, said: “Looking back, James was an absolute hero that day. It was a horrific situation for him and yet without him doing what he did, I wouldn’t be here. 

“I don’t remember much about what happened. I had gone into Arabella’s room to check on her. I remember feeling a bit breathless and then, within seconds, nothing.  

“Apparently, Arabella had started laughing because I’d collapsed on her bed, and she thought I was playing a game with her. James found me motionless. He could see I’d stopped breathing. He called 999 and started CPR on me.  He reacted very quickly – it was purely instinctive. This was all in front of Arabella, so really traumatic for her.” 

Save a life like Sarah's this Heart Month

By starting CPR, James kept Sarah alive until the ambulance crew arrived. Paramedics restarted Sarah’s heart using a defibrillator. She spent four weeks in hospital before being allowed home.

Sarah was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which will help control any potentially life-threatening heart rhythms in the future. Further tests later diagnosed she had a heart condition called Long QT syndrome. 

Talking about her experience, Sarah said: “Words just cannot express how grateful I am that James was there when I needed him most to give me CPR. Thanks to him I get to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, and I get to see her face at Christmas. This is the difference CPR can make.

"I feel so very lucky and that’s why I am supporting the BHF and raising awareness of RevivR this Heart Month. Everyone can spare fifteen minutes to learn CPR – it’s why I’m still here today.”

RevivR – First-of-a-kind CPR app  

RevivR is a free, quick and easy tool to improve the nation’s CPR and defibrillation skills. In just 15 minutes, it shows when and how to do CPR to save someone’s life – and all you need to practice is a mobile phone and a cushion. Our online tool teaches how to recognise a cardiac arrest, gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of defibrillator use, giving anyone the confidence to step in and help save a life in the event of the ultimate medical emergency.  

Find out how to save a life this heart month