Paul Swindell
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.
Ted Guloien
Ted Guloien is a social psychologist from Toronto who experienced cardiac arrest during a half-marathon in November 2013, collapsing 250 metres from the finish line. He compiled his reflections into a self-published pamphlet for survivors and brings both professional insight and lived experience to his writing.
Richard Houghton
Richard Houghton is one of SCA UK's longest-standing contributors, writing since 2016. A cardiac arrest survivor and sailor, he has chronicled the full arc of long-term recovery across eight posts spanning seven years, covering mental health, ICD replacement, practical challenges of living with a device, and rebuilding life and identity.
Stuart Menzies
I joined SCA UK in 2016, shortly after my wife suffered an out-of-hospital Sudden Cardiac arrest while we were shopping. Luckily, I was able to step in as I knew CPR. She was diagnosed as idiopathic and has an ICD, and she has since made a good recovery. The support we have both received through SCA UK is immeasurable and encouraged me to participate more and more with the group, whereby I eventually was invited to be a moderator of the group. In 2021 I retired from Police Scotland, where I had served for 30 years, and I am now Resilience Coordinator with a local authority in Scotland. I hope the skills I have developed through my working career and the experience of being a lifesaver and husband to a cardiac arrest survivor will allow me to give something back to SCA UK as a Trustee.
Ingrid Gardner
Ingrid Gardner survived a cardiac arrest in October 2016, resuscitated by a stranger who performed CPR at the end of a friend's driveway. Since joining SCA UK she has been an active peer supporter and writes about how connecting with other survivors transformed her recovery.
David Jeffery
David Jeffery's cardiac arrest was captured on CCTV. Since his arrest, he has become a Community First Responder, turning his own experience of sudden cardiac arrest into a commitment to save others.
Richard Yeowart Moore
I’m a father of 2 boys, suffered a heart attack followed by cardiac arrest whilst running the Blackpool Marathon at the age of 40.
Bob Reville
Bob Reville survived a cardiac arrest at Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield in September 2013. He has an S-ICD and writes about life after sudden cardiac arrest from his own experience of recovery, navigating daily life with a device, and finding a way forward.
Doug Rachac
After working in the medical device industry for 14 years, including for Medtronic, I became an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patient at the age of 40. This personal experience inspired me to become a patient advocate and educator. I now use my professional knowledge and firsthand experience to help other patients navigate life with an ICD and live without device-related stress and anxiety. I'm active in various peer support groups, create YouTube videos to answer common patient questions on topics like airport security and device functionality, and have collaborated with Medtronic on the "Heart Device Answers" platform. I am also a frequent guest on podcasts, where I share my story and insights.
Freddie Dawkins
Freddie Dawkins survived a cardiac arrest in January 2020 and has a CRT-D implant. He writes about his recovery journey, including the isolation of early recovery, rebuilding confidence, and the experience of getting out of survivor mode.