A co-survivor is a family member, partner, friend, or colleague who was present at a cardiac arrest or closely affected by it. The term recognises that a cardiac arrest is a traumatic event not just for the person who experienced it, but for everyone around them — particularly those who witnessed the collapse, performed CPR, called 999, or waited at the hospital not knowing whether their loved one would survive.
Co-survivors are sometimes called secondary survivors. Their psychological needs are distinct from those of the survivor themselves, but equally real and equally valid. Research consistently shows that co-survivors experience high rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fear of recurrence — often persisting long after the survivor has been discharged home and is visibly recovering.
Despite this, co-survivors frequently report that their needs go unrecognised by healthcare services, which tend to focus on the patient. If you are a co-survivor, your experience matters. Support is available — through peer support networks, psychological services, and organisations such as Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK.