A man who ‘died for five minutes’ after suffering two cardiac arrests will be taking on the ABP Newport Marathon to raise money for the hospital that helped save his life.
Grant Williams, 53, was out on a training run in Liverpool on 9 March 2024 with a group of friends who were preparing to run the Manchester Marathon.
They were planning to run 12 miles and stopped at mile 11 to take a selfie. Shortly after getting going again, fit and healthy Grant collapsed. He was in cardiac arrest.
Members of his group started chest compressions and ran to find a defibrillator. Luckily for him, two off duty doctors, Dr Mel Hamilton and Dr Joe Clarkson, also saw what had happened and sprang into action, taking over the CPR.
Grant, who lived in Newport until he was 16 before joining the Navy now works as a fitness instructor in Liverpool. He said: “It was the luckiest run to die on in the fact that there were two doctors in the area as well as a defib. Mel was passing by and started doing CPR and Joe, who was in the nearby barbers, saw what was happening and came out to help.
“I can’t remember a thing, but I was told I arrested twice and my heart stopped for five minutes. The group continued doing CPR until an ambulance arrived. I’m indebted to everyone who helped.”
Grant was taken to hospital where he was stabilised. He then went on to have a quadruple heart bypass.
After being discharged from hospital on 31 March 2024, Grant started training again as soon as he was well enough.
He said: “When I had my surgery, I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without getting out of breath and feeling like I needed to go to bed. But thankfully I’ve recovered well.”
After getting the OK from his consultant in October, he’ll now be taking on the ABP Newport Marathon, which is part of the ABP Newport Marathon Festival, on Sunday 13 April.
He said: “There will be 45 of us taking part on the day from my gym, including the group of eight who were running with me when I had my cardiac arrest and the two doctors who saved my life – 33 of us will be running the marathon, 7 will be doing the half and 10 will be doing the 10K.
“I’m not worried about anything happening again. My consultant has said I’m OK to run and I didn’t feel anything when I went out last time, so wouldn’t know any different. I’ve done a lot of work raising awareness of the importance of defibs and now most of the gyms in the area where we train have one and all our group know how to use one too.
“I was preparing for the Manchester Marathon last year when it happened, so it will be nice to come to my hometown to do the Newport Marathon and finish what I started.”
Grant will be raising money for the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, as well as awareness of the importance of defibrillators and CPR as he said, “there is not a chance I’d be here without it”.
He added: “It makes you realise there are so many nice people out there. I’ve never been a big believer when people say it’s not your time, but I understand that now. I’ve been given a second lease of life.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Grant and his team of runners back to his hometown of Newport for the ABP Newport Marathon Festival in April.
“Despite everything he’s been through, Grant isn’t letting it hold him back, and the fact that he is raising money to give back to those who helped him is admirable.”
