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Young Woman's Heart Stops: Fiancé's CPR Saves Her
10 Feb
Summary
- A 27-year-old woman experienced cardiac arrest and was clinically dead.
- Her fiancé's quick CPR maintained blood flow until paramedics arrived.
- She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
In August 2023, Maria Smith, then 27, experienced a sudden cardiac arrest, her heart ceasing to beat for an estimated 10 to 20 minutes. Her fiancé, Jamie, initiated CPR after finding her gasping for air and unresponsive, a crucial action that maintained blood flow until paramedics arrived eight minutes later. Following her revival and an induced coma, Maria was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, an incurable condition where heart chambers enlarge and muscles weaken.
Maria's survival, against odds of less than one in ten for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, highlights the critical role of bystander CPR. She later had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) inserted to monitor heart rhythms and deliver shocks if necessary. Her experience underscores that cardiac events can affect young people, challenging the misconception that heart disease primarily affects older adults. The British Heart Foundation is raising awareness, with initiatives like red benches dedicated to survivors like Maria, Joe Baxter, and Salman Uddin, who also faced life-threatening cardiac events at young ages.
