Bagshot couple who lived through life-threatening heart drama to take on cycle challenge for charity
November 6, 2021, is a date Jamie Gardner and his partner Nicola Dean will never forget. Jamie had gone to bed feeling fine, but hours later he was fighting for his life.
A sudden cardiac arrest left him unresponsive. It was Nicola’s calm under pressure - calling 999 and performing CPR for 27 minutes - that kept him alive until help arrived.
Today, Jamie is not only living proof of the power of CPR, but also a man on a mission. He and Nicola are preparing to cycle the London to Brighton Off Road Bike Ride to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), marking a second chance at life.
Recalling the fateful morning Nicola, 41, said: “I’d gone to the bathroom when I heard a strange noise. I went back through, I realised Jamie wasn’t conscious or breathing. That’s when the panic hit, and I called 999.”
Having never performed CPR before, Nicola was guided through the process by the emergency services call handler. The physical effort of continuing chest compressions for so long left her unable to speak to the 999 operator at times.
“It was incredibly hard to keep going,” said Nicola, who had been with Jamie for just 18 months. “But I just kept thinking about Jamie’s family. They’re all very close, and I felt it was my responsibility to do everything I could.”
After nearly half an hour, paramedics arrived and rushed Jamie to hospital. But the ordeal was far from over.
Jamie, 48, was placed in an induced coma to allow his body to recover and protect the brain from damage. It wasn’t until three anxious weeks later that Jamie regained consciousness.
“That was the moment I could finally breathe again,” says Nicola. “Jamie’s family and I had endured three weeks of heartache, not knowing if he would pull through.”
The road to recovery was long. Jamie, who worked as an IT manager, also suffered a stroke during his hospital stay, affecting his motor skills and making it difficult to write and walk.
“My speech was fine, but my coordination and motor skills were a challenge,” Jamie explained. “The stroke team were brilliant, and within a week, I regained enough ability to pass their tests.”
As a result of his cardiac arrest, Jamie had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted in his chest. The device detects dangerous abnormally fast heart rhythms and gives an electrical shock to help the heart beat normally.
After five months of recovery, Jamie was able to return to work. But the experience also profoundly affected Nicola. “Once Jamie was better that was when the stress of everything caught up with me,” she said. “I started to have panic attacks and I struggled to deal with everyday life.”
Nicola, who works in finance, sought help for her mental health and was recommended a form of psychotherapy called eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR). The therapy helps people deal with difficult memories by helping the brain to reprocess them properly.
The experience left a lasting impact on both of them and has resulted in them embracing a new perspective on life.
“We don’t take days for granted anymore,” says Jamie. “Life is meant to be enjoyed. That doesn’t mean a fast car or a big house, for me it’s about much simpler things, like being outside and enjoying the countryside. We recently bought a van that we’ve converted so we can pack a few things and go camping whenever we like.”
The new found appreciation for the outdoors has sparked an interest in cycling. And on September 20, the couple will join 2,000 riders in the BHF’s London to Brighton Off Road Bike Ride, tackling trails, tracks and steep climbs.
Explaining his motivation, Jamie said: “The BHF has played a huge part in developing procedures, drugs and treatments that saved my life. This ride is a way to give back – and help fund future breakthroughs that could save others.
In the UK, heart and circulatory diseases cause around one in four deaths. The BHF funds research into prevention, treatment and cures.
Kirstie Guildford, Events Manager at the BHF, said: “It’s incredibly humbling to know that Nicola and Jamie, after everything they’ve been through, will be taking part in our off road bike ride to support our research.
“Without the dedication of people like them we wouldn’t be able to fund the life-saving projects that can discover new breakthroughs.
“We wish them a fantastic day – and many more together in the future.”
People can donate to Jamie and Nicola’s fundraising online: justgiving.com/page/beating-it-to-keep-it-beating