LISTEN: Heysham fundraiser tells inspiring story of surviving sudden cardiac arrest

A dad from Heysham has bounced back from a near-fatal cardiac arrest to help others including his stepdaughter who herself survived a horrific car crash.

Rob Kitchen told Beyond Radio how lucky he feels to be alive after his sudden collapse while out on a motorbike ride with friends three years ago.

Rob's heart stopped for around eight minutes and he said: "I shouldn't be here. I'd actually gone from this world."

But thanks to on-the-spot CPR and use of a defibrillator, he was able to make a remarkably quick and full recovery.

Having already raised thousands for a charity which helps provide communities with defibrillators, Rob will next cycle 85 miles to support his stepdaughter Sarah Thomas who was seriously injured just months before his cardiac arrest.

LISTEN to Rob Kitchen tell his incredible story

It was September 23 2023 when Rob set out with a group of friends on a motorcycle ride through the Yorkshire Dales, heading for the pub in Settle where his son worked.

They arrived in Reeth, a remote village in Swaledale, and decided to stop for a coffee.

"I put the bike on its sidestand, I can remember putting my helmet down, and then just leaned back on a post, tried to take my rucksack off, and went back," said Rob, 59.

"The lads thought I was just larking around. But unbeknown to me I'd had a sudden cardiac arrest. Very similar to what happened to (footballer) Christian Eriksen on the football field, and other footballers, and many others.

"The odds were against me. I'd actually gone from this world.

"They started doing CPR on me. Luckily there was a defibrillator in a nearby church hall, there were two off duty nurses helping my good friend Jonathan Briggs who was with us, who does a lot of first aid at Heysham Power Stations, he knew what to do straightaway.

"I'd gone, but he kept me alive, and my heart going, and they brought me back.

"I was airlifted to Middlesbrough Hospital, where I spent two weeks and in there, having all kinds of tests.

"It came back with an unknown cause of why it had happened, but it happens to many many thousands of people. And most people unfortunately who have an out of hospital cardiac arrest don't live to tell the tale.

"I'd not felt unwell. I was pretty fit in general. From no warning whatsoever, I just went down like a sack of spuds.

"(The CPR and defibrillator being there), that's what saved my life.

"I made a full recovery straightaway. I was a lucky boy. All my stars were aligned that day.

"An hour after it happened, I was sat in A&E having a cup of tea and something to eat. 

"I ended up being fitted with an internal defibrillator, that's what (footballers) have had fitted, they go back to living a normal life.

"I've gone back to just enjoying life like I always used to, and trying to help other people.

"I'm told my heart had stopped for something in the region of seven to eight, possibly more minutes."

Rob said he feels so lucky to have survived, thankful to everyone who has helped him, and grateful to still be able to help other people.

Having retired from his long-time work in local authority waste management, he now works as site manager at St Peter's Primary School in Heysham, and also helps at the Royal pub in Heysham village where his son Will is general manager.

In 2024, Rob and friends (below) raised £4200 through a sponsored cycle ride from Middlesbrough to Reeth, in aid of the Community Heartbeat Trust, to help raise awareness of cardiac arrests, CPR and the importance of defibrillators.

Now he is turning his attention to raising funds for the Barton rehabilitation ward at the Royal Preston Hospital, which helped Sarah recover from a severe brain injury.

"On January 8 2023, two days after her birthday, Sarah was a passenger in a car in Cumbria," said Rob.

"It went out of control, Sarah took the full brunt of the force of the accident and was rushed to Royal Preston Infirmary.

"We nearly lost her. She had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot.

"She was moved to Barton rehabiltation ward at Preston hospital for two months, and they looked after her.

"How she has recovered is remarkable."

Rob will get on his bike on May 9-10, on the Bay Cycleway from Walney to Glasson, to raise funds for the ward.

You can donate HERE.

Sarah (below) herself will run the Manchester Half Marathon in October for the Critical Care Unit at the hospital.

Her fundraising page says: "On Sunday 8th January 2023, myself and my partner were passengers in a near fatal car accident.

"I was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital where life saving brain surgery was performed and I was put into an induced coma.

"While asleep, I had surgery to put my face back together and to treat a significant laceration from my eye to my mouth.

"This was a life changing event and something I will never forget, but will learn to live with and eventually move on from.

"Due to ongoing operations and medical appointments, I have not been in a position to look at the idea of fundraising. However, as we go into 2026, this is the year I want to give back to the teams who saved my life and looked after my family.

"Myself and a group of family and friends will be running the October Manchester Half Marathon to raise money for the critical care and the family support unit.

"The critical care unit at Royal Preston Hospital is one of the largest in the North West of England, looking after more than 1600 patients every year.

"Their dedicated team provides intensive treatment and close monitoring of patients who are seriously ill, or who need intensive care following surgery.

"As the Critical Care Unit continues to grow, there will always be a need for those added extras which can make all the difference to their patients and families, when they need it the most.

"Your donations will enable the provision of a welcoming, calm and comfortable environment for families staying close to their loved ones. With your help they can also fund additional equipment and state-of-the-art simulation training, enabling their medical team to remain at the forefront of modern technology and exceptional care.

"Thank you so much for your support!"

You can donate to Sarah's page HERE.