Victoria Thomas, a fitness lover from Gloucester, UK, faced a terrifying moment during a boot camp session when she suddenly felt very dizzy and weak after lifting weights. The 35-year-old accountant collapsed before she could even alert her friend that she was unwell.
It was soon discovered that Victoria had suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics arrived quickly and began CPR, desperately trying to restart her heart, which had stopped beating.
Victoria recalls the chilling experience when her world went completely black. “I looked down on my body,” she said, floating near the ceiling of the gym, watching herself lying on the floor. She did not feel calm or see any bright lights. Instead, she simply observed from above.
After 17 intense minutes, medical professionals managed to revive her. “They never gave up on me,” Victoria said. She spent several days in a coma and was later fitted with a defibrillator to prevent future heart failures.
Despite no family history of heart problems, Victoria’s heart stopped multiple times after the incident. Her device repeatedly saved her life, allowing her to keep living a normal life, including returning to sports like netball just weeks later.
During pregnancy, her heart struggled further, leading to regular cardiac arrests. At 24 weeks pregnant, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Danon disease, which affects muscle and heart health. She gave birth early, at 30 weeks, by emergency C-section to a healthy baby boy named Tommy, who fortunately shows no signs of the disease.
In April 2023, Victoria underwent a successful heart transplant. She now trains to compete in volleyball and basketball at the World Transplant Games. Victoria describes her experience as a second chance at life, one she cherishes deeply.
