'I was out for 40 minutes': One Stop boss in shock cardiac arrest horror on family visit

A One Stop shop boss suffered a shock cardiac arrest while on a family visit at the age of 29.

Carl Griffiths, 29, who lives in Middlesbrough, had spent a normal day running errands before the terrifying medical episode which saw him "out for 40 minutes".

He'd travelled to Sunderland with his partner Josh to pick up their Jack Russell, Luna, from Veterinary Vision after she required an eye operation, did some shopping and arrived back home at around 3pm, before visiting Josh’s auntie at her home in Ormesby. It was during that visit, on April 18, 2023, that Carl suddenly fell ill, suffering a cardiac arrest.

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999 crews were called and both the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) went to the scene of the life-threatening emergency.

He said: “I was out for 40 minutes. I received seven minutes of CPR from Josh who at the time was a student nurse but has since qualified. I then received several shocks from a defibrillator from the paramedic team. The team from GNAAS also drilled through my knee to inject adrenaline into my bone marrow due to them not being able to get access from a vein.”

Carl was put into a medically induced coma by GNAAS’ team before being transported to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, in a NEAS ambulance, where he stayed for 14 days.

He said: “I underwent tests to see if there was a cause for the out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest but the only thing they found was a mitral valve prolapse (heart issue) which has a small chance of causing a cardiac arrest.

“I had a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted on May 2 and was released from hospital the same day.” Carl returned to work just 10 days after leaving hospital and he’s since built his strength back up to almost how it was before.

He said: “My ribs took a couple of months to heal. I still don't remember anything from the day of the cardiac arrest but there is no long-term damage to my memory which I'm grateful for. The only thing I suffer from is fatigue, where I find myself getting tired very quickly.”

More than a year since his incident, Carl has praised the emergency services teams who helped him.

He said: “I wouldn't have survived without a single member of the team who saved my life that day but due to the quick arrival time of GNAAS and the equipment they carry they were able to get me back into a normal heart rhythm which I think was down to the trial of the injection through my knee and the experience and training the team have.”

GNAAS doctor Lyle, who treated Carl on scene said: “We’re so glad to hear that Carl is doing well and we were able to play our part in the chain of survival. We had to give Carl an anaesthetic to stabilise his condition, but it was the combined effort of CPR that was in progress before we arrived, followed by early defibrillation, that ultimately led to a positive outcome.

“As we are a charity, we’d like to thank all of our supporters for enabling us to respond.”

Andrea Raine, head of operations for the South Division at NEAS added: “We are pleased to hear the patient is doing well and making a good recovery. The incident shows the important importance of CPR and the use of defibrillation. Cardiac arrest can strike anybody at any time in any place, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10%.

“Two NEAS ambulance crews attended this incident and they will be pleased to know that what they did that day made a real difference. Partnership working in incidents like this is crucial to ensuring the patient receives the best care and we wish Carl well in his continued recovery and for the future.

For more information on learning CPR click here.

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