Life After Cardiac Arrest

In this episode, host Paul Swindell reconnects with Professor Jerry Nolan — editor in chief of the journal Resuscitation and a leading figure in resuscitation science — six years after their first conversation. Together, they explore how survival rates have plateaued amid changing patient demographics, the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac arrest outcomes, and the massive collaborative effort behind t...

This episode features an extraordinary conversation with Patrick Charnley, author of the acclaimed novel This My Second Life , who suffered a cardiac arrest in February 2021 that left him with a severe brain injury. Host Paul Swindell talks with Patrick about his remarkable journey—from 40 minutes without a heartbeat, through cortical blindness, hallucinations, and pathological apathy, to discover...

This episode shines a spotlight on the vital role of co-survivors—those whose lives are deeply impacted when a loved one experiences a medical crisis. Host Paul Swindell is joined by Kristin Flanary, also known as Lady Glaucomflecken, a leading advocate and communicator who has turned her personal journey as a three-time co-survivor into a powerful movement. Together, they discuss the challenges c...

This episode is the second of two parts with cardiac arrest survivor Jeanne Reilly. Jeanne is also a speech and language therapist with many years of experience addressing communication issues and is the ideal person to offer insights and solutions to the common communication issues survivors experience. In this second part, Jeanne shares her professional experience and how it can help other survi...

This episode is the first of two parts with cardiac arrest survivor Jeanne Reilly. Jeanne is also a speech and language therapist with many years of experience dealing with communication issues and is the ideal person to offer insights and solutions to the common issues survivors experience. This first part explores Jeanne's cardiac arrest experience and how her professional experience has eased t...

This episode explores the CARESSf Project, an innovative initiative designed to improve survivorship care for people affected by cardiac arrest. Host Paul Swindell is joined by Dr. Nathan Pearson, a psychologist and lead researcher, to discuss how the project aims to bridge the gap between hospital discharge and long-term recovery. Together, they unpack the challenges survivors and their families...

In this episode, host Paul Swindell speaks with Dr Uzma Sajjad about the innovative RESCQ Project. This pioneering initiative supports those present at a resuscitation event—often called the "forgotten patients"—who witness out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Dr Sajjad explains how the project, currently piloting in Essex, provides vital resources, emotional support, and personalised guidance to those...

Never the same man, Part 2, with Paul chatting with co-survivor David Moore on his son's cardiac arrest, recovery and journey to healing though the creation of a book - "Never the same man." This volume captures the words and images that enabled Richard to communicate with his family how he was feeling. Finding creative writing, first through scrambled thoughts on scraps of paper and then into ful...

Never the same man, part 1, with Paul chatting with cardiac arrest survivor Richard Moore on his event, recovery and journey to healing though the creation of a book - "Never the same man." This volume captures the words and images that enabled him to communicate with his family how he was feeling. Finding creative writing, first through scrambled thoughts on scraps of paper and then into fully fo...

Paul talks with Professor Elijah Behr on something that is a subject of great personal interest, having experienced one in 2014 – idiopathic cardiac arrests – events where the cause is unknown. Professor Behr is a world-renowned expert on the subject and has been conducting a BHF-funded study to investigate the cases where people drop down “dead” for no apparent reason. Presented and edited by Pau...

SCA Survivor and fellow SCA UK trustee, Joanna Balgarnie chats with Paul about the need for fundraising within SCA UK and the inititives that are being undertaken to bolster the charities coffers. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded August 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul catches up with consultant cardiologist and fellow SCA UK trustee Dr Tom Keeble where he gives an overview of the last 5 years in the world of resuscitation, covid and SCA UK from his perspective. Pleas enot that since this recording doctor Keeble has since become a Professor - congratulations to him, and very much well deserved. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded July 2025.&nbsp...

It's been 5 years since the last episode and in this first of season 3 finale, Paul gives a quick overview of what's been happening with Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK. If you enjoyed this podcast please do leave a positive review on Apple or other podcast providers as it helps us to spread the word. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded September 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

In episode 50, the season 2 finale, Paul talks with Professor Mark Wilson who is qualified in both neurology and pre-hospital care and works at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust . He is also the co-founder of the GoodSAM platform and app and this is what we talk about today. Professor Wilson takes us through the inception of the platfor...

Paul talks to son and lifesaver Mark Holt about his father's cardiac arrest in a remote Lake District pub. Mark takes us through the event that occurred soon after his seemingly fit and healthy father had completed a run and a walk up the Old Man of Coniston. Mark talks about his work as a carer and how the experience of doing CPR in a medical environment differs from doing it on a family member f...

Paul talks with consultant neurologist Professor Tobias Cronberg from Lund University in Sweden on predicting how patients will do after they have had a cardiac arrest. If you listened to episode #044 you will know that Professor Cronberg has a deep interest in brain injury after a cardiac arrest and recently The Lancet published a major review he led into the current state of this subject from pr...

Paul talks about a device that many sudden cardiac arrest survivors have implanted, an ICD - Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. This episode is an introduction (or "101") into the sorts of things that those with an ICD should be aware of. He covers what an ICD is and why you might have one, what they do and what some of the things to be aware of. Packed full of tips and useful information aro...

Paul talks with consultant cardiologist Dr Sanjay Gupta on a supplement that he's found to be beneficial for cardiac patients who experience ectopics and palpitations. And that supplement is Magnesium and in this episode Dr Gupta takes us through what ectopics and palpitations are and why he recommends taking magnesium for them. He talks about the various types of magnesium available and which one...

Paul talks with the very remarkable Jonathan Jenkyn who has not only survived a sudden cardiac arrest, but also a potentially fatal kidney condition and he has recently beaten an aggressive form of cancer. Jonathan maybe extremely unlucky in having had the Grim Reaper have 3 attempts at him, and although he defeated this wiley foe he did not escape entirely unscathed from the experiences. However,...

Paul talks with Professor Tobias Cronberg from Lund University in Sweden who is a consultant in Neurology and has a deep interest in brain injury after a cardiac arrest. Professor Cronberg has been working with cooling technologies for over 20 years and is a senior member of the team behind the world wide Targeted Temperature Management 2 (TTM2) trial. The trial is a continuation of the original T...

Paul talks with assistant Professor Terry Brown on the out of hospital outcomes registry which is a project conducted by The University of Warwrick medical school. Terry takes us through what the registry is and how it fits in internationally ( CARES , EURECA , PAROS ), what information they collect and some of the projects that they have been looking at. From the data they have collated from the...

Paul talks with consultant cardiologist Dr Sanjay Gupta on a subject that he specialises in, cardiac imaging. Dr Gupta takes us through the various tools that he uses such as echocardiogram , computerised tomography (CT) scanning and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning . Dr Gupta explains everything about these techniques that patients need to know and also talks about how future tools may h...

1st May 2020 marks the 5th anniversary of the creation of Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK and Paul takes us through the first 5 years if the group. He talks about the formation and characteristics of the group and thanks some of the key players along the way. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded April 2020. Links mentioned in this episode include: Leaflet Books Shop Donate Dr Keeble SADS UK Ho...

In a follow up of last weeks episode Paul continues his talk with LACA regular  consultant cardiologist Dr Tom Keeble . Dr Keeble answers cardiology questions that have been put to him by members of Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK . These include the subjects of beta-blockers, electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium, atherosclerosis (furring of the arteries) and future risk, anti-platelet thera...

Paul talks with LACA regular consultant cardiologist Dr Tom Keeble . Dr Keeble talks about the current COVID-19 pandemic including his personal experiences as both a doctor treating patients and as someone who has has a suspected case of the disease. He also answers some questions from members of SCA UK on this topic. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded April 2020. Hosted on Acast. See...