JUST three weeks ago Paul Reardon’s wife, Raedene, stood over her husband’s lifeless body, praying for his recovery, inside a local gym just moments after receiving a call that he possibly suffered a heart attack after training.
But, like a scene from the popular series, Walking Dead, Paul, who was technically dead at the time, sat with his wife by his side at his Kloof office and told the story of how he had ‘died’ for the second time. Not only did his full recovery shock friends and family, but Paul’s cardiologist described the event as unbelievable and said it was a miracle.
At 23, Paul, now 41, contracted chickenpox: “I was training at the time, and as a result of the chickenpox I tore my aorta. I had to have a valve replacement and then had a massive valve failure a while later. I lay in my hospital bed that night thinking I was going to die,” Paul said when describing the event that led to his first brush with death.
On Thursday, 5 February at about lunchtime Paul was swimming at the Kloof Virgin Active gym with some friends: “I climbed out and remembered saying to my friends that I didn’t feel well. I passed out and woke up again in hospital. I didn’t know what happened.”
Raedene said she received a call from a personal trainer at the gym at about 12.05pm: “The personal trainer said Paul might have suffered a heart attack and that he was at the pool. I jumped in my car and rushed to the gym. I was frantic. I got there when an off-duty lifeguard was giving Paul CPR. I stood by his legs, rubbing them and praying he’d come back. I then contacted my stepson, Nathan, who arrived at the gym too.”
After what felt like a lifetime to all on scene, Netcare 911 paramedic, Konrad Jones, arrived shortly afterwards to take over from the lifeguard: “I arrived and an off-duty lifeguard was giving Paul CPR. I then defibrillated (electrically shocked) Paul’s heart five times before advanced life support paramedics on the ambulance gave him multiple adrenaline shots. He started coming around again,” Konrad said.
Paul was then rushed to Hillcrest Private Hospital, where he was stabilised, before being transported to Ethekwini Hospital in Durban North.
When Paul woke up at Ethekwini Hospital he was surrounded by his family: Raedene, Nathan and Paul’s youngest son, Aaron (18).
“On Aaron’s 18th birthday – 10 February – Paul underwent surgery to be fitted with a pacemaker (a small device that’s placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms). It was the best birthday gift he ever got,” Raedene said.
For the second time Paul looked at life in a different way: “I respect life more because of what happened to me. Konrad is a legend, so was everyone else who helped. I can’t believe how quickly everyone came together and helped.”
For Paul it’s also a blessing to be alive: “I’ve technically died twice in my lifetime. God has been amazing. I’m glad I’ve got Him. I shouldn’t be here today.”
For now the avid sportsman is taking it easy and is due for another check-up with his cardiologist in six weeks’ time.
Early action can save a life
NETCARE 911’s Chris Botha said starting CPR early and carrying on until a paramedic arrives is vital to a person’s survival.
“It increases a person’s chances of survival significantly and could be the difference between life and death,” he said.
