Case study: Richard - "Everyone who helped me that day quite literally saved my life”

In April 2022, Richard Moore was taking on the Blackpool Marathon for the second time, determined to beat his previous best and finish in under four hours. For most of the race, everything was going exactly to plan. 

Three hours in, Richard felt a tightening feeling in his chest, what he assumed was a stitch. Like many runners, he pushed through. What Richard didn’t realise was that he was in the middle of a heart attack. After almost an hour of fighting on, and just 400 metres from the finish line, he experienced a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

A runner just two places behind immediately stopped to help - an NHS worker began chest compressions without hesitation. Paramedics stationed at the finish line reached Richard quickly, taking over CPR efforts and delivering a lifesaving shock with a defibrillator.

Richard has no memory of those moments; everything he knows is from the accounts of others. He was transported to Blackpool’s cardiac unit, where he received a stent.

Since recovering, Richard has channelled his experience into making a difference for others. He has written a book highlighting the struggles he has faced on his recovery journey, and completed two half-marathons to raise funds for the lifeboat charity that supported him on the day of his cardiac arrest. He has also founded The Southport Saviours Foundation, which raises money to install publicly accessible defibrillators - already completed their 43rd installation.

The foundation also delivers free CPR and defibrillator awareness sessions in schools. So far, they have taught more than 1,000 people how to step in and help save a life in an emergency.