Life After Cardiac Arrest

Paul Swindell
  • 4.7 (6)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

The Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast is hosted by survivor Paul Swindell and is conversations with people who's lives have been affected by a cardiac arrest, whether that be as a patient, partner, life saver or health professional. The podcast aims to give insight, information and hope to any others going through this life changing event. A cardiac arrest is when someone's heart stops beating due to an electrical malfunction, it's different to a heart attack, which is a "plumbing" problem, although many cardiac arrests are caused by a heart attack. Someone in cardiac arrest could be said to be clinically dead, and if no intervention is made they will unfortunately stay that way and die. In the UK only 8% survive this event, and with an estimated 250 taking place each day there is a growing number of survivors. A thriving peer support community - Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK - has grown out of the need for more information and help for survivors and their families post discharge. The NHS and chain of survival are doing remarkable things in helping people survive but unfortunately the system hasn't yet caught up with the problems that survivors and their families are experiencing after this life changing event. If you have been affected by a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, come and join over a thousand others at: facebook.com/groups/SuddenCardiacArrestUK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Sep 9

    #065 RescQ Part 2 - Supporting cardiac arrest rescuers with Dr Uzma Sajjad

    Thirteen months after her first appearance, Dr Uzma Sajjad is back. RescQ, the co-survivor support service she leads at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre with the East of England Ambulance Service, has finished its one-year pilot. The headline: of 432 eligible cardiac arrests in Essex, just over half resulted in someone being offered support, comfortably clearing the feasibility target. Around 300 co-survivors were reached. Twenty-seven of them asked for a personal conversation, and Uzma ended up having each one herself. What she heard in them was not what she expected. In this episode: Why only half, and not all of them? A candid answer about how new ideas do or do not stick in an ambulance serviceWhat the paramedics made of it, in their own wordsWhy Uzma refused to use a script, and what happened when she let people leadThe question co-survivors ask again and again, and the one answer that brings relief every timeThe people who saved a life and cannot bear being called a heroHow the conversation changes when the patient died, and when the rescuer was a stranger who will never find outThe one in ten co-survivors who are under 18, and why there is nothing for them yetThe video that is missing from the RescQ websiteThe finding that surprised us bothWho should provide this support, and whether it really needs a cardiologistWhat a year of these conversations cost her, and the phrase a Scottish nurse gave her for itThe 2025 Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, which now say offer support, and how far reality is from thatWhat happens to RescQ nextWhether "the forgotten patients" is still the right name Our first conversation with Dr Sajjad, recorded when RescQ was three months old: https://suddencardiacarrestuk.org/2025/11/new-podcast-episode-rescq-support-for-the-forgotten-patients-with-dr-uzma-sajjad/ Did you witness a cardiac arrest, do CPR or make the call? You do not need to be in Essex to get help: https://suddencardiacarrestuk.org/get-support/co-survivors/ Work for an ambulance service, cardiac network or trust? If you want to know what it would take to bring something like RescQ to your area, email info@scauk.org and we will connect you with the Essex team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Aug 20

    #064 The girl who died at Christmas with Lucinda Dodd

    Lucinda Dodd was 24, living in London and, by her own account, doing everything right. Then, on the morning of Christmas Eve, she had a cardiac arrest in her sleep. Her mum, a nurse with decades of experience, found her, pulled her onto the floor and gave CPR for fifteen minutes with no response at all. Her 21-year-old brother called 999. Her dad froze. The paramedics shocked her eight times, and on the ninth her heart restarted. They worked on her in the house for over an hour. She woke up on Christmas Day. Most guests on this podcast had a settled life to get back to. Lucinda did not have one yet. In this conversation, she talks about what a cardiac arrest does to a life that has barely started, and about the version of survivorship that nobody has written a leaflet for. We cover: That morning, and why she believes her family suffered more than she didHer brother, who thought she was dead, made the call, and has only recently started talking about itWhy co-survivors carry something of their own, and how little the system offers themA diagnosis of "idiopathic", and living without an explanationTwo heart medications from your mid-twenties, when nobody has sixty years of dataHer S-ICD, which she calls "my box", and how long it took to make peace with itThe hospital leaflet promising she would make her grandchild's third birthday, when what she wanted was her 25thLosing her driving licence, finding SCA UK, and being decades younger than anyone else on her wardA month in Canada, a week off-grid in Wells Gray with no phone signal, and the moment she realised she had not thought about it onceWho actually sets a survivor's boundaries: you, your clinicians, or the people who love youWriting about it, and why her family's story is not only hers to tellWhat a space for younger survivors should look like, designed by someone who needed one Lucinda writes at Lucinda's Letters: https://lucindajohannaelizabeth.substack.com Her blog for SCA UK on the Canada trip: https://scauk.org/rUIh Content note: this episode includes a detailed account of a cardiac arrest and resuscitation, and touches on bereavement and on some very low moments during recovery. Were you young when it happened to you? We are working out what a space for younger survivors inside SCA UK should look like, and Lucinda is helping us think it through. If you had your cardiac arrest in your twenties or thirties, we would like to hear what you make of it. Email info@scauk.org with "young survivors" in the subject line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Apr 16

    #063 The state of resuscitation in 2026 with Professor Jerry Nolan

    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 the 2025 ERC guidelines, which for the first time formally included patient and co-survivor involvement. They discuss key changes, including the redesigned Chain of Survival — now featuring a dedicated survivorship ring — the shift away from routine cooling after cardiac arrest, advances in prognostication that can now predict good outcomes (not just poor ones), and the emerging role of AI in everything from analysing 999 calls to streamlining guideline development. Professor Nolan also shares his views on genetic screening for younger cardiac arrest survivors, the growing recognition of co-survivors and the psychological toll on bystanders, and why the evidence base for post-arrest rehabilitation remains frustratingly thin despite widespread acknowledgement of the need. A wide-ranging and honest conversation about where resuscitation science stands today — and what still needs to change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Mar 5

    #062 This, My Second Life with Patrick Charnley

    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 discovering that his brain injury unlocked a new depth and honesty in his writing. Together, they explore the realities of living with fatigue and memory loss, the importance of mourning your previous life, and how slowing down can lead to a richer, more present existence. Patrick also shares how nature, creativity, and the literary legacy of his mother, celebrated author Helen Dunmore, have shaped his recovery and his work. Whether you're a survivor, a co-survivor, or simply looking for a story of resilience and hope, this episode offers both insight and inspiration. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded February 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 12/22/2025

    #061 Co-Survivor advocacy with Kristin Flanary

    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 co-survivors face, the importance of naming and validating their experiences, and how Kristin and her husband, Dr Glaucomflecken, have built a supportive community through humour and advocacy. Whether you’re a survivor, a co-survivor, or interested in the human side of healthcare, this episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded September 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 12/11/2025

    #060 Understanding communication challenges post cardiac arrest with Jeanne Reilly

    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 survivors and their key supporters. The first part explored Jeanne's cardiac arrest experience and how her professional experience has eased the recovery. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded August 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 12/11/2025

    #059 When words won't come. A speech therapist's experience of a sudden cardiac arrest with Jeanne Reilly

    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 the recovery. In the second part, Jeanne shares her professional experience and how it can help other survivors and their key supporters. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded August 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 11/21/2025

    #058 CARESSf survivorship care with Dr Nathan Pearson

    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 face, the importance of holistic support, and what makes the CARESSf approach unique. Whether you’re a survivor, a loved one, or interested in advances in cardiac care, this episode offers valuable insights and hope for the future. Presented and edited by Paul Swindell. Recorded August 2025.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast is hosted by survivor Paul Swindell and is conversations with people who's lives have been affected by a cardiac arrest, whether that be as a patient, partner, life saver or health professional. The podcast aims to give insight, information and hope to any others going through this life changing event. A cardiac arrest is when someone's heart stops beating due to an electrical malfunction, it's different to a heart attack, which is a "plumbing" problem, although many cardiac arrests are caused by a heart attack. Someone in cardiac arrest could be said to be clinically dead, and if no intervention is made they will unfortunately stay that way and die. In the UK only 8% survive this event, and with an estimated 250 taking place each day there is a growing number of survivors. A thriving peer support community - Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK - has grown out of the need for more information and help for survivors and their families post discharge. The NHS and chain of survival are doing remarkable things in helping people survive but unfortunately the system hasn't yet caught up with the problems that survivors and their families are experiencing after this life changing event. If you have been affected by a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, come and join over a thousand others at: facebook.com/groups/SuddenCardiacArrestUK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Swindell
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Paul Swindell
  • Show Website
    Life After Cardiac Arrest

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