Life After Cardiac Arrest

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 formed poems, Richard has captured many of the thoughts and fears, trials and tribulations of being a cardiac arrest survivor. The book is co-authored with his father, David Moore, who is interviewed in the second part and conducted many of the dialogues that went into forming the core of the book. This episode contains several of Richards read by the author, and they can also be seen in video form on Richard's YouTube channel.

Building a man

Where once, a stone of a man had stood, left now is a broken body, a heart no good

A fall from a place so safe and warm, into the depths where only the buzzards swarm.

Into a dark that no one knows, a journey to where, not even sea foam blows.

Where the wind and trees don’t get to dance.

The seeds that are planted don’t stand a chance.

Absent of stars, moon or sky, where odds are stacked and the wager, high.

A hollow void where this man shouldn’t be, laid out so bare, for all to see.

Alone and helpless sinking inside, reaching, gasping, no more alive.

Calm and peace allowing to rest, the sand of time no longer compressed.

A weight now lifted, drifting away, this is my place and here I must lay.

But within that depth lies a sound that speaks.

A drum that beats and refuses defeat.

A pulse with no rhythm that started to dance, a song with no words played completely by chance.

A hand on my chest, whispers come now, don’t rest.

The people I love all put to the test.

Life being forced, driven and pressed, do what you can and what ever is best.

Next a bolt, thrown at might, thunder charges, angels they fight.

Laying claim to a body where they posses no right.

The devil he hounds for his pound of flesh, must pay the toll man to get out of this mess.

Eyes start to flutter showing signs of a spark, lost in the woods, enough of the dark.

Now here lies a man made of stents and stone, glass legs and twisted chest bone.

A memory so broken that plays on repeat, a muscle repaired that struggles to beat.

Palms held out and feeling for life, the calm of a voice, the warmth of a wife.

The storm, now settled and rumbles no more, leaving a man washed up on the shore.

A puppet propped up unable to stand, stumbling, falling and needing your hand.

A child again, the world has turned, back to the start, this life must be earned.

Now the game starts of building a man.

The board is set and the dice have ran.

All the same pieces, but never the same man.

See Richard's YouTube Channel for more of his poems and videos

Purchase the book at neverthesameman.co.uk – Never The Same Man

Recorded and edited by Paul Swindell, 2025

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Paul Swindell.

Recorded June 2025. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. 

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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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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Presented and edited by Paul Swindell.

Recorded September 2025. 

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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 platforma as a way to reduce deaths from cardiac arrest and it's take-up by many across the UK and further afield. The platform has gained additional services and responsibilities and is being used to manage the NHS Coronavirus Volunteer responders programme.

In just a few years the GoodSAM team have built an enviable platform and reputation and Professor Wilson takes us through what it can do to help those in cardiac arrest and beyond.

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Presented and edited by Paul Swindell.

Recorded June 2020.

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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 far away from a hospital. He talks about how it has affected him and his family, his dad's recovery and how a previous stranger's cardiac arrest effectively saved his dad's life.

Presented and edited by Paul Swindell

Recorded in June 2020

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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 prognostication through to rehabilitation.

This episode focuses on the prognostication aspect and Professor Cronberg gives us some insights into the tools and techniques that are used and the whys and hows of decisions that are made when reasoning on the possible outcomes.

Please be warned that this may be a difficult episode for some to listen to as the professor talks about the stark realities of surviving a cardiac arrest even if you get to the hospital alive.

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Presented and edited by Paul Swindell.

Recorded June 2020. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 around this device that is becoming more and more common.

An episode for anyone with an ICD whether they've had a cardiac arrest or not.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

ICD Precautions

ICD Shocks

ICD Sounds

ICD Protection

ICD Electro Magnetic Compatibility

ICD Support Centre Locator

Ask The ICD

Doug Rachac ICD YouTube Channel

Presented and edited by Paul Swindell.

Recorded June 2020

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ones to buy and which ones to avoid. There's lots of great help if you are experiencing ectopics or palpitations or just want to know a little more about what goes on in your heart. Another essential listen from this popular YouTube cardiologist.

Presented and edited by Paul Swindell.

Recorded March 2020.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.