Sue Whitham's Survival Story

When Sue Whitham left work one evening, she was certain that exciting news was close. Her first granddaughter was due any moment and she could hardly wait to meet her.

What happened next was something no one could have imagined.

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest at Home

That night, Sue suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped without warning. One moment she was waiting for news of her granddaughter’s birth and the next her family was facing every loved one’s worst fear.

Her husband, Julian, immediately realised something was terribly wrong. When he saw that Sue wasn’t breathing, he dialled 999 and began chest compressions straight away.

Guiding him over the phone was London Ambulance Service call handler Mattie Wright, who stayed on the line, counting compressions and helping Julian stay focused during those critical first minutes.

Those early actions kept oxygen flowing around Sue’s body and gave her the best possible chance of survival until ambulance crews arrived.

Why Immediate CPR Matters

When a cardiac arrest occurs, the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Without immediate treatment, oxygen can no longer reach the brain and other vital organs, causing survival chances to fall with every passing minute.

This is why starting CPR as quickly as possible is so important.

CPR helps keep blood circulating around the body while emergency services are on their way. It can buy valuable time until medical care arrives. If a defibrillator is available, it can be used alongside CPR to deliver a shock that may help restore a normal heart rhythm.

By recognising the emergency and beginning chest compressions immediately, Julian gave Sue the best possible chance of survival.

When paramedics arrived, they continued resuscitation efforts for nearly an hour. Sue even suffered another cardiac arrest on the way to St George’s hospital. Despite the severity of her condition, the quick actions taken at home, combined with the expertise of call handlers, paramedics and hospital teams, ultimately helped save her life.

Waking Up to a New Reality

At hospital, Sue received specialist treatment, including stents to restore blood flow to her heart. She was placed into a medically induced coma for several weeks.

When she finally woke up, she believed only a day had passed.

In reality, her granddaughter had already been born and was four weeks old.

Finally Meeting Baby Sienna

One of the most emotional moments of Sue’s recovery was finally meeting baby Sienna.

Before her cardiac arrest, she had been eagerly awaiting her arrival. Now, she was holding the granddaughter she had almost never had the chance to meet.

Throughout her rehabilitation, Sue was driven to be well enough to take her granddaughter out for walks.

After months of determination and recovery, she achieved exactly that.

Her cardiac arrest survival story is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a person, a family and a future worth protecting.

Raising Awareness Through Football

Since her recovery, Sue has become passionate about raising awareness of CPR, cardiac arrest and the importance of acting quickly.

As part of this work, she met with Brentford FC to discuss how she could support their awareness campaign. Sue and her husband, Julian, are lifelong Brentford supporters and season ticket holders, making the opportunity particularly meaningful.

During the visit, the club surprised Sue with a signed Brentford shirt, a gesture that meant a great deal to both her and Julian.

Plans were also made for Sue to speak at a Brentford match about the importance of CPR and the difference that immediate action can make during a cardiac emergency. Sadly, she was unable to attend after being admitted to hospital with COVID-19, which affected her heart rhythm and required further medical care.

Although she missed the opportunity to speak on the day, Sue continues to use her experience to help educate others. By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage more people to learn CPR, understand the signs of heart problems and feel confident acting in an emergency.

Sue’s commitment to raising awareness has also led to a partnership with WEL Medical, a leading provider of CPR training equipment, defibrillators and resuscitation solutions.

Working together, Sue and WEL Medical are helping to educate more people about sudden cardiac arrest. By sharing her personal experience, Sue hopes to encourage others to recognise potential warning signs, seek medical advice when something doesn’t feel right and feel confident taking action in an emergency.

Why Public Access Defibrillators Save Lives

Sue survived because people acted immediately.

Learning CPR, calling for help quickly and having access to a defibrillator dramatically increase survival chances. Although most cardiac arrests happen at home, public access defibrillators remain essential they provide life‑saving equipment that can be used before emergency services arrive.

Modern defibrillators are designed for everyone. They give clear voice instructions and guide users through every step.

Could You Save Someone You Love?

Many people assume a cardiac arrest will never affect their family. Sue’s story shows how suddenly it can happen and how vital those first few minutes are.

Today, Sue is creating memories with her granddaughter, memories that were nearly lost forever. Her survival is a testament to fast action, CPR knowledge and the dedication of emergency responders.

At Defib Supplies, we believe everyone should have the confidence and equipment to act in a cardiac emergency. Because when a cardiac arrest happens, the actions taken in those first moments can be the difference between a loss and a lifetime of memories.