Life After Cardiac Arrest

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 affected by these traumatic events. Listeners will learn about the project's origins, its collaborative approach, and the importance of addressing the psychological impact on bystanders. Tune in to discover how RESCQ is bridging a crucial gap in post-resuscitation care and changing livesPresented and edited by Paul Swindell.Recorded July 2025. 

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 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 this episode 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.Heart BreaksShit, here we go again, digging heels in to resist, dragged to the edge, hoping people don’t see the cliff.My voice starts to waiver, eyes fill with dread, hairs on my back, like needles in my head. Stop stop please stop, take another breath, swallow down the sad, compose back to myself.It was a simple question, tell me how are things, nails dug in my palms. Sirens start to ring.Things get easier with time, and oh you’ll be fine. Clearly all just lies, aiding the disguise.But this time there’s no masking, tears down my face, in the head teachers office, let me out this place. It’s just a conversation, with a million people listening, uncomfortably sitting, changing my position. Record button rolling, the stampede has begun, the horse left with out the carriage. Should I just up & run?The breaks of my heart, shudder to a stop, my heartbreak tale, wish I could swap. Here comes the wave, that knocks me off my feet, tumbling in the undertow, palms the hottest heat. I’m falling apart, for everyone to see, a fully grown adult, it’s not how I should be.Would you like to take a break, a sympathetic voice, the sad doesn’t really stop, I don’t get that choice.Can I take a break from it all, go back to the time before, before all the mess, before the closing of the door. I should have know better than to think I’m ok, the overwhelming dark it never goes away. Feeling quite embarrassed, a pausing of the show, handing me a tissue, not how it’s supposed to go.Stop button pressed, this is as far as I can take. The end of the line, my story of heartbreak.See Richard's YouTube Channel for more of his poems and videosPurchase the book at neverthesameman.co.uk – Never The Same ManRecorded and edited by Paul Swindell, 2025

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 manWhere once, a stone of a man had stood, left now is a broken body, a heart no goodA 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 videosPurchase the book at neverthesameman.co.uk – Never The Same ManRecorded and edited by Paul Swindell, 2025

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.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 June 2020.