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When Sean suffered a cardiac arrest while exercising, getting treatment to him quickly was essential. Our rapid response meant Sean’s was quickly flown to hospital to the care he needed.

Your donations help us to be there quickly, in need of urgent medical care. We receive no government funding and rely on your donations to help us save more lives together.

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Sean’s Story

As a medical professional, Coalville GP Sean Ottey knows exactly what difference being flown to hospital by the local air ambulance made to his recovery after he suffered a cardiac arrest whilst exercising.

“It’s all down to time. Getting the right treatment as quickly as possible is crucial in terms of minimising damage to the heart muscle, memory and brain.” he explains.

Sean (53) was flown to Derby Royal Infirmary in just 12 minutes by Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance after the helicopter was called out to Hood Park Leisure Centre in Ashby-de-la-Zouch – where Sean was taking part in a high intensity training session.

“The air ambulance critical care doctor gave me drugs which helped my condition and the speedy transfer to hospital was crucial in the chain of events that saved my life.” he says.

Sean “felt absolutely fine” when he was taking part in a weekly exercise class which he had attended at the local leisure centre for the past 15 years.

“I remember doing a backward lunge and the next thing I was waking up in intensive care.” he says.

There is a history of heart problems in Sean’s family and despite him being a non-smoker, not obese and exercising regularly he believes “…it is inevitable that I would have had a cardiac arrest at some point.”

Looking back now he says that he “was in the right place at the right time” when it happened as the leisure centre staff were first aid trained and did CPR on him straight way.

“If I had a cardiac arrest when I was out walking on my own in the middle of nowhere the outcome would have been completely different.” he says.

Sean spent over two weeks in hospital – 48 hours in an induced coma – and during that time he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and stent fitted.

A few months later, Sean was walking up to five miles a day, following a programme of cardiac rehabilitation exercises, and said he felt “generally well”.

Since his cardiac arrest Sean has also moved in with his partner and welcomed a baby girl called Sapphire.

Will you help us save more lives?

David owes his life to the critical care team. From being given 48 hours to live, to living a normal life – it’s a miracle.

Rachel, David’s Wife

When every second counts, we’re there.

Your donations helped us reach over 3,500 people who needed our help in 2023. Each rescue mission costs over £2,300, but your donation today, whatever the amount, will ensure we help more people in their time of need like Sean.

Together, we save more lives.

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