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I died for 17 minutes while I was working out at the gym - this is what I saw as medics frantically revived me
I died for 17 minutes while I was working out at the gym - this is what I saw as medics frantically revived me

Daily Mail​

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • Daily Mail​

I died for 17 minutes while I was working out at the gym - this is what I saw as medics frantically revived me

A 'fit and healthy' woman who lay dead on the floor of her local gym after suffering a cardiac arrest has shared her near death experience. Victoria Thomas, now 41, collapsed while taking part in a bootcamp class and was technically dead for 17 minutes. But while many people who 'cross over' to the other side and come back share stories of feeling peaceful and seeing a tunnel of bright, soothing light, Ms Thomas tells a totally different tale. She told the Mirror: 'When it happened, it went black and there was nothing, then I became aware of looking down on my body. 'I was floating near the roof and was looking down at myself on the gym floor. My first thought was that my legs looked really fat.' But rather than this being a strange hallucination, it actually adds weight to Ms Thomas' out of body experience. She added: 'When I looked at a photo of myself taken just minutes before I collapsed, I could see that my legs were actually swollen. 'I didn't see a light, or feel peaceful, I was just watching myself, and I could see some yellow machines around me.' There was no warning that Ms Thomas was about to fall ill, apart from a general feeling of malaise which she shared with a friend. She said: 'I said to my friend that I didn't feel like I had any power or energy, like it had just drained from my body. 'I was also feeling slightly dizzy. I'd only just said it when I suddenly collapsed on the floor.' Staff tried to revive her but to no avail, and within minutes paramedics arrived at the gym and began working on restarting her heart, a process which took 17 minutes. 'They never gave up on me. The minutes ticked by, but they refused to stop trying,' she said. 'I was so young, fit and healthy and it had come completely out of the blue.' Ms Thomas was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where she spent three days in a coma and was fitted with a defibrillator to restart her heart in the event her body went into cardiac arrest again—and it did. In the following months, her heart stopped several times, only to be promptly kicked back into rhythm, including when she was back on the court playing netball. She said: 'I went back to playing netball three weeks after it happened, with my defibrillator. 'It was a shock whenever it went off, but it allowed me to carry on living my normal life, which I was so grateful for.' In February 2021, Ms Thomas discovered that she was pregnant, which put her heart under more strain. At the 24-weeks mark, Ms Thomas discovered the root cause of her heart issues was a rare genetic disorder, which came as a huge surprise as her family doesn't have a history of heart disease, or any sort of heart problems. Specialists diagnosed her as having Danon disease, a rare genetic disorder which affects less than a million people worldwide. It is caused by a problem with the LAMP 2 gene, which produces an enzyme that is responsible for a process that keeps cells clean and healthy. Incredibly, life expectancy for people living with the disease is 19 for men and 24 for women. Tests revealed that neither Tommy, now three, nor Victoria's other relatives have Danon disease, much to her relief. WHAT IS A CARDIAC ARREST? A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, which is usually due to a problem with electrical signals in the organ. This causes the brain to be starved of oxygen, which results in sufferers not breathing and losing consciousness. In the UK, more than 30,000 cardiac arrests occur a year outside of hospital, compared to over 356,000 in the US. Cardiac arrests are different to heart attacks, with the latter occurring when blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off due to a clot in one of the coronary arteries. Common causes include heart attacks, heart disease and heart muscle inflammation. Drug overdose and losing a large amount of blood can also be to blame. Giving an electric shock through the chest wall via a defibrillator can start the heart again. In the meantime, CPR can keep oxygen circulating around the body. 'When I read the letter from the genetics team telling me what I had, I was 24 weeks pregnant with Tommy and I was so shocked, I couldn't take it in. 'The doctors wanted to deliver Tommy at just 24 weeks, but I persuaded them to let me hang on a few more weeks. If he had been born at 24 weeks then he may not have survived. 'But by the time I was 30 weeks I couldn't breathe properly because of the fluid build up around my body, so I had to have an emergency caesarean.' Pregnancy wasn't the only cause of strain on Ms Thomas' body, motherhood also took its toll—just six months after giving birth, she struggled to get up the stairs. In April 2022, a hospital check-up found her heart was functioning at just 11 per cent, which is categorised as end-of-life heart failure. She said: 'I asked the doctors how long I had left and they told me I had just another couple of months. 'It was devastating. All I could think of was Tommy. I vowed I wouldn't leave him.' The distraught new mum was placed on the urgent donor register and forced to remain in hospital, counting down the minutes until her sisters brought her baby to the ward for cuddles. She recalled: 'I would cuddle him and cherish every moment I had with him. 'Time was running out for me, and I had to pray that they were going to find me a heart in time. Two hearts were found – but further tests revealed they weren't suitable.' Victoria, who now lives in Gloucester, says: 'It was devastating. Each time I'd get my hopes up thinking this was it, that I was going to be saved. 'And then I was told that the operation couldn't go ahead. I didn't know if they were ever going to find a heart in time. I'd given up all hope.' Thankfully in April 2023 a suitable, and usable, heart was found and after undergoing a transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, she was allowed home in May. She is now back to full strength, playing netball four times a week, and she is due to compete in both volleyball and basketball at the World Transplant Games in Germany next month—and remains grateful to her donor and their family. She said: 'I'd been in hospital since Tommy's first birthday in October and now I was finally home with him. I couldn't believe it. 'I'm spending time as a mum with my son and I'm back playing the sport that I love. I feel like I've been given a second chance at life, and to be a mum. 'It's the greatest gift I could ever have asked for.'

I survived deadliest sort of heart attack - this is what I saw during my near-death experience
I survived deadliest sort of heart attack - this is what I saw during my near-death experience

Daily Mail​

time21-07-2025

  • Health
  • Daily Mail​

I survived deadliest sort of heart attack - this is what I saw during my near-death experience

A mother-of-three who had a near-death experience after suffering one of the deadliest types of heart attack has revealed in vivid detail what she felt and saw 'on the other side'. Jenna Tanner, 49, who is now writing a book about the astonishing ordeal, said it has made her realise what really matters in life. Ms Tanner, from Oklahoma, admits she mistook the first signs—chest pain and breathlessness— as the flu, something her children had recently recovered from. But just a few days later, on 9 March 2022, the stay-at-home mother suffered a 'widowmaker' heart attack, causing her to lose consciousness. These attacks occur when there is a full blockage in the heart's biggest artery—and just 12 per cent of victims survive one. Ms Tanner said: 'It felt like an elephant had walked in on my chest and I knew instantly what was happening.' Recalling her 'out of body' experience, Ms Tanner said: 'It was like floating through space. I was getting closer to what I would describe as a nebula. 'There was a big cloud of colors moving that were changing. Everything was vivid stars. I was just floating peacefully.' 'Not once did I remember or relive any bad parts of life. Everything that I thought about was the connections I had made with people or places while I was alive. 'It was just all the good stuff.' Luckily, family members had called emergency services—medics arrived just 13 minutes later and were able to resuscitate her, saving her life. Referring to Ms Tanner as a 'miracle' case, her cardiologist said: 'In a 20-year career and over 4,000 surgeries, I've never seen anything like this. 'I didn't even know people could survive this.' When Ms Tanner arrived in hospital, cardiologists implanted a heart pump and a stent to widen the narrowed artery—a procedure which usually requires heart bypass surgery—and restore blood flow to the heart. And after just ten days in hospital—six of which she spent in intensive care—the mother-of-three walked out on her own, unaided by doctors. Yet her recovery has been far from easy, seeing her gain almost three stone—which she has since lost—and suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. The fire department reached Jenna's home within 13 minutes, providing a life-saving service which saw Jenna walk out of hospital just 10 days after suffering a serious heart attack She now has to take thirteen different types of medication to manage her symptoms. The fire department, which came to Ms Tanner's rescue as it was closest to where she lived, has since received an award for reaching her in record time and providing life-saving care. A widowmaker heart attack occurs when a blood clot completely obstructs the left main coronary artery (LMCA), the most critical artery of the heart. Within minutes, this can cut-off life-giving oxygen to the heart and the muscle can die. Even if a person receives immediate treatment, this sort of heart attack can cause irreversible tissue damage that can permanently affect the functioning of the heart muscle. Researchers are now urging health authorities to update current guidelines so more people can be tested for early warning signs—potentially saving thousands of lives. Ms Tanner's case comes amid a worrying rise in premature deaths from heart attacks and strokes, which last year reached their highest level in over a decade. MailOnline has previously reported that the number of under-40s treated by the NHS for heart attacks is also climbing, with soaring obesity rates and related health issues believed to be key drivers. In the UK, around 420 people of working age die of as a result of heart disease each week, totalling an alarming 21,975 a year. Cardiovascular disease is America's number one killer and nearly 1million people die of it every year.

Life before and after nearly losing a child
Life before and after nearly losing a child

The Guardian

time30-05-2025

  • General
  • The Guardian

Life before and after nearly losing a child

Archie Bland's article about his son and his family's experience mirrors that of my own family (The boy who came back: the near-death, and changed life, of my son Max, 24 May). My son, who is now nine years old, had a blood clot in his small intestine which led to two major life-saving operations in 48 hours, and a complete change in his health, capabilities and lifestyle. My life has now been for ever split between 'Before 16 April 2023' (the day my son nearly died) and 'After'. Archie detailed the intense emotions of every step beautifully. One of the hardest things when you go through nearly losing a child, and having an altered child return to you, is the loneliness. He depicts this so well, as even if you are lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends, it is hard to not feel as though you and your partner are the only two people in the world who are dealing with this fear, sadness, worry and desperate need to help your child. My family and I are now in a much better place – much better than we ever thought possible back in April 2023. There is a time when the loudest thoughts will fade – those grief-ridden thoughts about the future your child may have had, the desperate thoughts about making every moment count and being useful for your child's development, the frightening thoughts about your child's future, and the outright terrifying thoughts about their vulnerability after your own death. There is a time when they will fade into the background. They will always be there, but the loudest thought will be the love for your child and how they are capable of brightening up your day with the smallest gesture or smile. I offer Archie and his family my sincere best MunirLondon

Haunting beyond-the-grave obituary of Indiana man who predicted his own death
Haunting beyond-the-grave obituary of Indiana man who predicted his own death

Daily Mail​

time14-05-2025

  • General
  • Daily Mail​

Haunting beyond-the-grave obituary of Indiana man who predicted his own death

An Indiana man published his own obituary detailing his many near-death experiences after he was killed in a plane crash. Gary Wolfelt, 72, was killed on May 5 after his 'beloved' single-engine Express 2000 FT plane that he spent 17 years perfecting crashed in Ashland, Ohio. People rarely get the chance to write their own obituaries, but the Lafayette native had his ready to go because of 'several close calls' he experienced in his life. 'Hello. I am Gary. I am completely dead now. I am surprised that it took this long to happen,' the late pilot joked in the opening of his obituary. 'I had several close calls throughout my lifetime. I guess that I was just lucky that something didn't get me long before now,' he added. Not only did Gary mention that he believed he should have been dead 'long ago,' but he also shared examples of just how close he had come to the end of his life. One of his oldest memories was when he got whacked in the head with a fly ball during a baseball game as a little boy. Sadly, his injury did not pay off for his team, who went 0-20 all season, he quipped. When Gary was in his 20s he was kicked by his sister's horse directly in his gut, and he claimed that if the animal had aimed any higher his 'heart probably would have stopped.' A decade later he was hit by a car, an incident that he said was completely his fault. 'It was my fault as I was crossing against the light. It really knocked me hell bent for election. But I got up and brushed it off and went home with a torn up coat and kind of sore,' he recalled, adding: 'Lucky me!' While demolishing an old neglected building in his 40s, the structure came crashing down on Gary while he was inside tying off a cable, he said. Luckily for him, a massive brick chimney that fell down just missed him by approximately 10ft. After about 40 years on earth, and several close calls, Gary said he started to believe there wasn't 'any more room in heaven or hell for me' so he had to be 'stuck in purgatory for a while longer.' Just when he thought he was safe, he was pinned to the floor after falling down 19 stairs at his office when a 100lb safe landed directly on top of him in his 50s. Gary said: 'That one was the worst! I didn't get any body parts broken and no internal injuries. But I couldn't even pick up my own feet to get into bed for about a week. Thank god for pain killing drugs!' In his 60s Gary, who was the owner and president of Wolfelt Electronic Security for 27 years, fell backward 10ft off a scaffold and cracked his skull open on the pavement. He got checked out at a doctor's office after, where he found out he had prostate cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early enough to be treated, Gary said, adding that he 'dodged another bullet.' The treatment only lasted so long, as he had to have his prostate removed in his 70s. Although the surgery went well, Gary unfortunately developed an 'internal leak' that nearly took his life. 'One more close call late in life!,' he said, noting that he has no idea what will actually kill him. 'I cannot tell you here what sort of event actually killed me as I wrote this obituary before I was completely dead. Someone else will have to fill in the details later on I guess,' he continued. After detailing his many near-death experiences, Gary kept the rest of his obituary light-hearted, apologizing to those he 'might have offended or mistreated.' 'The truth is that I was far from a perfect human, although I did try to learn from my mistakes and short-comings as I grew older,' he went on. Gary made sure to mention his family, including his wife Esther Chosnek, who he met 'sometime in January of 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada,' he wrote. He noted that he did not want a funeral and asked people to take themselves out to dinner in lieu of flowers. At the end of his unique obituary, he let Esther get a word in. She added some of his accomplishments, including her late husband being a graduate of Purdue school of Aviation Technology. A celebration of life is set to be held for Gary on May 19th.

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