‘There’s no way I should be here’ — CPR, heroic efforts save UK heart patient

A harrowing day on the golf course

Rob Sprang cannot recall the events of September 7, 2023—a warm late summer day at the Lakeside Golf Course in Lexington, United Kingdom. He does not remember hitting the greens, nor falling unconscious and unresponsive on the fairway of the fourth hole. But his friends, Tim Worley and Brian Davis, remember every frightful detail.

A sudden danger amidst a normal game

Known for his grit and resilience, Rob has largely led a life unaffected by significant heart issues. Despite being born with multiple heart defects and undergoing extensive surgeries in 2017, Rob, an active sports enthusiast, never let his cardiac history hamper his spirit. But on the day of the golf round, his heart abruptly stopped, leaving him in grave danger.

Witnesses spring into action

A call from Brian got Tim’s attention to Rob’s dire situation. His instincts as a former Navy medic kicked in immediately. Not skipping a breath, Tim started administering life-saving CPR to Rob while Brian promptly called 911. In a bid to increase survival chances, Brian also arranged for an automated external defibrillator (AED) from the clubhouse, thanks to the quick response of Head Golf Professional Aaron McDowell.

Vertical to the hospital

Together, Tim and Aaron continued chest compressions, administering two shocks through the AED until the ambulance arrived. Rob was then immediately transported to the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute at UK HealthCare’s Albert B. Chandler Hospital for emergency treatment.

Defying odds thanks to quick intervention

Rob’s cardiac surgeon installed a pacemaker and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in his heart, which would monitor and correct his heartbeat. Cardiologist Vedant Gupta, M.D. believes that Rob’s heart arrest was likely linked to his congenital heart defects and prior surgical history.

Surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest usually has a less than 10% chance, which doubles if immediate CPR is performed. Both Rob and his doctors credit his survival to the quick and heroic response of Tim, Brian, Aaron, and the EMS team.

Tough road to recovery

During his recovery phase, Rob’s heart stopped again, but this time his implanted ICD quickly corrected his heart rhythm. Post-recovery, a determined Rob made a significant progress and was soon seen enjoying his life on the ski slopes of Canada. Despite his triumph over life-threatening conditions, Rob often grapples with feelings of guilt.He’s indebted to his saviors, Tim and Brian, who had to witness their friend’s near-death experience.

A reminder of the significance of CPR training

The ordeal has indeed been a huge learning curve for everyone. Tim advocating the importance of knowing basic life support asserts, “Because you never know when you’re going to need it…I mean one minute you’re on the golf course playing golf, and the next minute you’re giving a guy CPR.”

For Rob, every day is a gift now and his survival story serves as a stark reminder to us that our lives are fragile, and situations can change within a blink of an eye.

“My life is different. There’s no way I should be here. But the stars lined up and things worked out.”- says Rob in a reflective tone.

CPR Awareness Week

The week of June 1-7 marks CPR Awareness Week. Learning basic CPR and using an AED can significantly increase the chances of survival from an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Only 40% of such cases receive immediate help, thus, awareness and widespread knowledge of CPR is crucial.

UK HealthCare commitment to advanced medicine

UK HealthCare, home to more than 10,000 dedicated healthcare professionals, continues its quest to transform healthcare with advanced subspecialty treatments for critically injured and ailing patients, aiming to create a healthier United Kingdom.