Woman suddenly collapses and dies while on a morning run. Minutes later, her heart starts beating again: ‘I don’t remember anything else’
She was given another chance at life with the help of kind strangers.
Going on a morning run is a rather mundane activity, though some may find themselves at the center of unwanted attention. But for one woman, drawing the attention of strangers saved her life after she suddenly collapsed and clinically died during her run.
43-year-old Kayley Koppa was out on a 10-mile run around the Brisbane River in South East Queensland, Australia, when she suddenly had to stop six miles in after realizing something was wrong with her body. Feeling unwell, Koppa immediately sat down on a park bench, but soon passed out without realizing it, according to 9News.
Not long after, passersby and fellow runners noticed Koppa lying on the bench and were unresponsive when they tried to coax her awake. The strangers immediately realized the gravity of the situation when the runner’s face began turning blue and she was no longer breathing.
Strangers immediately resuscitate Koppa after collapsing during run
Members of the public immediately performed CPR on Koppa, while David McMillan, one of the passersby, called Triple Zero (000), Australia’s main emergency number for time-sensitive and life-threatening situations. “We were walking on the boardwalk, and someone’s laying. We’ve stopped to see if she’s OK, and she’s unresponsive,” McMillan told the Triple Zero operator in excerpts obtained by 9News.
McMillan was told to find an automated external defibrillator (AED) and was fortunately able to find one at a nearby casino. Star Casino’s security worker, Trevor Tyrna, witnessed the emergency while monitoring security footage and immediately ran out and operated, for the first time in his life, the AED on Koppa.
At that point, Koppa’s heart had already stopped beating for several minutes. But because of McMillan and Tyrna’s quick actions, they were able to resuscitate her until paramedics arrived. Recalling the incident, Tyrna told the outlet how they were focused on trying to bring Koppa back to life: “She needed our help, so that’s all you’re fixed on is helping her out.”
When paramedics arrived, they rushed Koppa to a nearby hospital, where she was able to recover after receiving treatment. However, they believe that without the strangers’ intervention, Koppa’s situation could have turned fatal. “I think that if the defib and bystanders’ CPR hadn’t been performed in this case, she would be in a much worse state than she is,” paramedic Emma Medcraft said.
Koppa was diagnosed with a heart condition
Koppa was later told by doctors that she had clinically died and that she had progressive genetic heart disease, a genetic condition that affects the heart’s normal rhythm due to a change in the DNA. According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD), this disease can sometimes be passed down from a parent to their child. However, it most commonly manifests in adulthood, typically between the ages of 19 and 65.
Symptoms of this disease vary from person to person. Individuals may experience one or more symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. Some symptoms include heart block, fainting and dizzy spells, abnormal heart rate, abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, and cardiac failure.
Having one or more of these symptoms, however, does not automatically mean an individual has progressive genetic heart disease. It is still best to consult with a medical professional to get a clear diagnosis.
As for Koppa, the incident was all a blur for the 43-year-old. “I was running, and I saw this building here; I don’t remember anything else,” Koppa said. “I can’t believe I am still alive thanks to everybody who came to help me.”
Koppa’s experience highlighted the importance of knowing how to perform CPR, as well as the necessity of having access to and being trained to use an AED. At the end of the day, even the healthiest people who never show any signs of the symptoms can be affected.
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