The man was officially dead for an hour and ten minutes before the doctors miraculously reset his heart. At the same time, he is now completely healthy, contrary to the fears of doctors who predicted extensive brain damage.
David Jar, 28, was brought back to life 70 minutes after cardiac arrest at his home in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland. In a desperate attempt to bring him back to life, girlfriend Lynette Crozier immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which doctors say saved his life.
The ambulance and then the hospital staff continued resuscitation and used the defibrillator 16 times before his heart beat again. The family was told that the man would have brain damage, but David surprised the doctors with his recovery and made his family happy. Currently, he has already been discharged from the hospital and is continuing treatment at home.
The incident with the father of two is similar to that of football player Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed during an English Premier League match on the pitch last year.
Lynette, 22, a friend of David, said: “David was sleeping next to me, I woke up from the fact that he began to choke and did not answer. I started shaking him. When he stopped breathing and his heart was no longer beating, I called an ambulance. While waiting for the doctors, I started doing CPR and chest compressions. It lasted about three minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Our little girl screamed and called her dad. I thought we lost him."
Following his attack in March, David spent five days on ventilator in the intensive care unit, followed by another 11 days under the supervision of doctors. His family, including two young daughters Georgia and Ella, were told to prepare for the worst as it was highly likely that David would have left brain damage. But the former builder amazed the doctors with his recovery.
Lynette said: "They said that even if David came to his senses, he would have brain damage, but they were at a loss to say how large it would be because his heart had not been working for a very long time."
Despite many tests, doctors have not been able to figure out what caused the cardiac arrest.
Promotional video:
“I just went to bed on Saturday night, and after that I woke up in the hospital. I didn't believe it when the doctors told me that I had a heart attack. When the doctors examined me, they did not find any serious health problems in me that could cause an attack,”says David.
The head of the cardiology department at the hospital where David lay said that a quick start to CPR is the key to survival. The cardiologist believes that Lynette saved David's life: "If she hadn't started CPR, David most likely would not have lived."
Previously, doctors rated the chances of survival 20 minutes after cardiac arrest as very low, but last year, research provided information that indicated that survival increased beyond the 20 minute.
Dr. Purcell added: “In this case, it helped that the man was young, healthy. Good survival in such situations is observed even in children. Many young children can experience this."