Footballer hails life savers after cardiac arrest

A man has said "words can't describe" his gratitude to medics and friends who saved his life after his heart stopped while he was playing football.

Regan Pearson, 32, suffered a cardiac arrest during a five-a-side game at a leisure centre in Northallerton. He collapsed, falling backwards and hitting his head on the floor.

He was later found to have had a congenital defect in his right coronary artery and underwent open-heart surgery to correct the issue.

Mr Pearson said without the quick response of those around him that day he "wouldn't be here".

"You never think something like this will happen to you," he said.

"I'm only 32, and the average age for a cardiac arrest in the UK is around 70," he added.

The footballer's teammates and staff at the centre used a nearby defibrillator to successfully restart his heart, which restored his pulse and enabled him to start breathing again.

When Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics Terri-ann Lonie and Tom Chatwyn arrived at the leisure centre, Mr Pearson was already receiving treatment from a local land ambulance crew.

Reflecting on Mr Pearson's critical condition, Mr Chatwyn said: "Just because he'd had a return of circulation didn't mean he was out of danger.

"There was still a risk that his heart could stop again at any moment.

"We needed to manage his airway, support his breathing and stabilise his condition as quickly as possible."

Following medical attention at the leisure centre Mr Pearson was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Tests at the hospital discovered he had a previously undiagnosed congenital defect that had caused the cardiac arrest.

He was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator as a precautionary measure.

Speaking ahead of a TV programme telling the story, Mr Pearson said: "I don't know what the future holds, and there's always that worry it could happen again, but I know how incredibly lucky I am to still be here."

Mr Pearson's story will feature on Really and discovery+ programme Yorkshire Air 999.

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