Friends save athlete whose heart stopped during running training

Chris Poole, a 40-year-old living in England, suddenly fell ill and collapsed during a running training session. The life of Poole, whose heart had stopped, was saved thanks to the swift intervention of a running group friend who had recently received CPR training, and a defibrillator brought from a nearby gym. After receiving treatment in the hospital for about 50 days, Poole was diagnosed with acute myocarditis and had an ICD device implanted in his heart.

Chris Poole, a 40-year-old safety engineer who regularly exercises and has completed numerous half marathons and two full marathons to date, fell ill prior to a training session with the Redway Runners running group. It was determined that Poole's heart had stopped when he collapsed while waiting for the run. The fact that one of the leaders in the group had recently received CPR training played a critical role. While the leader immediately started CPR, other members called emergency services and retrieved a defibrillator from a nearby gym. Airlifted and rushed by ground ambulance to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Poole spent approximately 50 days in treatment, which included a medically induced coma.

Doctors determined that Poole's heart had stopped due to acute myocarditis. Following this condition, known as inflammation of the heart muscle, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was placed in Poole's heart to intervene in dangerous heart rhythm disorders, and it was decided that he will use medication for the rest of his life. Returning home at the end of March and starting light-paced walks, Poole stated following his ordeal that first aid awareness should be increased in society, calling on organizations to register their defibrillators and for everyone to receive basic CPR training.