Seventeen-year-old Ollie was preparing for his A Levels when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his home on 15 May 2025. Earlier that day, Ollie had been sent home from sixth form after feeling unwell.
Despite resting for a while, he felt short of breath, and when he told his mum “I need an ambulance,” they immediately called 999. The London Ambulance Service rapid response paramedic arrived within minutes. Initially conscious but in visible distress, Ollie suddenly collapsed. He was unconscious and had stopped breathing - he was in cardiac arrest.
The attending paramedics began CPR immediately. During resuscitation, a paramedic identified that Ollie’s lungs were not inflating. Further assessment revealed a life-threatening condition where trapped air prevents the lungs from expanding and compresses the heart. While CPR continued, paramedics performed the steps needed to relieve pressure on Ollie’s chest and re-expand the lungs. At this critical point, the London Air Ambulance team arrived to assist.
Shortly afterwards, Ollie’s heart was successfully restarted. The team stabilised him on scene for nearly an hour before accompanying him by blue-light transfer to The Royal London Hospital. There, he received emergency chest drains to prevent further lung collapse. The next morning, Ollie was transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, a specialist centre, where he underwent surgery to remove damaged lung tissue.