Key Highlights :
Former Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba and Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans have joined forces to boost a campaign to prevent heart related deaths. On Tuesday this week, the two joined the TOBE-Heartsafe team at a Parliamentary reception to demonstrate the life-saving skills training that the charity provides, including CPR and the use of a defibrillator (AED).
Muamba, 35, suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing for Bolton at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane stadium in 2012. After collapsing, he received lengthy treatment on the field, including from a cardiologist who was in the crowd, and his heart stopped for 78 minutes, before being taken to hospital where he made a miraculous recovery. The incident led to Muamba's retirement from football aged just 24.
The TOBE-Heartsafe team demonstrated their life-saving skills training at the Westminster event, including CPR and the use of a defibrillator (AED), as well as discussing cardiac screening for young people. The charity is a non-profit organisation which aims to provide cardiac screening, CPR training and defibrillators to local communities via schools and sports clubs.
The charity was created out of a tragedy when in July 2019, 22 year old Toby (or Tobe as he was known) was found dead on his bedroom floor by his mother – Sam Richards – from an undiagnosed heart condition. Mrs Richards said: “Every week in the UK, around 12 young people (under the age of 35) die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition and 80 per cent of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms. For every minute someone is in cardiac arrest without CPR and access to a defibrillator, their chances of survival drops by up to 10 per cent.”
The importance of having people trained in CPR and a defibrillator handy was shown when Christian Eriksen collapsed mid-game during the EURO 2020 tournament while playing for Denmark, but survived and returned to playing.
House of Commons deputy speaker Mr Evans said: “Every year, many thousands die from diagnosed and undiagnosed heart conditions across the country, and it is so important that as many people as possible are clued up and trained in how to deliver the lifesaving first aid which can make the difference between life and death.”
He added: “It is inspiring to see the impressive work which TOBE-Heartsafe have managed to achieve in the wake of such tragic circumstances. I am certain that many people will be saved as a result of the essential training and screening services which the TOBE team have already delivered and will continue to deliver over the coming years.”
The TOBE-Heartsafe team have been working hard to raise awareness of the dangers of undiagnosed heart conditions and to provide lifesaving skills training to local communities. With the help of Fabrice Muamba and Nigel Evans, they are sure to be able to reach even more people and save even more lives.