A 14-year-old boy who had a heart attack while playing football SAVED by quick-thinking friends who remembered a CPR lesson from school

  • Joel Massey, 14, has heart disease Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
  • Went into cardiac arrest while playing football with his three friends
  • Fortunately, Ben Stevens, 16, had received training in CPR
  • His other two friends were able to call an ambulance and get help
  • Although his heart stopped for ten minutes, Joel survived the ordeal

By Sara Malm

Published: | Updated:


A teenage boy who'd gone into cardiac arrest was brought back to life by his friends, who were able to perform CPR thanks to a First Aid class they'd remembered from school.

Joel Massey, 14, had a heart attack and suddenly collapsed while playing football with his three friends Sam Seaborn, Rhodri Whittaker and Ben Stevens, all 16, near his home in Ledbury, Hertfordshire.

Joel’s heart stopped for ten minutes, but thanks to his friends’ quick thinking, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Lifesavers: Thanks to his friends Sam Seaborn, Ben Stevens and Rhodri Whittaker, Joel Massey survived a ten-minute cardiac arrest on the football pitch earlier this month

Lifesavers: Thanks to his friends Sam Seaborn, Ben Stevens and Rhodri Whittaker, Joel Massey survived a ten-minute cardiac arrest on the football pitch earlier this month

Joel suffers from congenial heart disease Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an electrical defect which sometimes sees him suffer heart palpitations.

When he collapsed during a kick-about on April 12, his three friends were able to think back to a biology lesson on First Aid, and remembered what to do.

While Sam ran for help, Rhodri dialled 999 and Ben started performing CPR until an ambulance arrived.

Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart his heart and he was taken by ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Collect photo of Joel Massey mountain biking with his friend Rhodri Whittaker
Joel Massey recovering in Birmingham Children's Hospital

Collect photo of Joel Massey mountain biking with his friend Rhodri Whittaker

Important lessons: When Joel collapsed, Sam and Rhodri, pictured left and right, were able to call for help while Ben, centre, performed CPR after remembering what he had learned on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and in biology

Important lessons: When Joel collapsed, Sam and Rhodri, pictured left and right, were able to call for help while Ben, centre, performed CPR after remembering what he had learned on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and in biology

Joel was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White when he was 13, and although sufferers very rarely are at risk of cardiac arrest, those who are tend to be much older than Joel.

WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE

In Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, the heart beats abnormally fast due to an extra electrical connection in the heart.

It is one of the most common causes of an abnormally fast heart rate in infants and children, but although the syndrome is congenital, it is often not detected until the child is 10-13.

The heart of a person with WPW will suddenly suffer heart palpitations, before the heartbeat stopps or slows down abruptly.

The length and frequency of these episodes varies from person to person. In many cases, episodes of abnormal heart activity associated with WPW syndrome are harmless, don't last long and settle down on their own without treatment.

Source: NHS Choices

Today, Joel has been reunited with his best friends as they were awarded a certificate for their heroic actions.

He said: ‘I really can't remember any of it.

'I can remember earlier that day but all I know from what happened is what I have been told.

‘It has been frustrating being stuck in hospital now because I feel fine.

'I can't believe what the boys did. I am indebted to them really. They saved my life.

‘I think it has brought us all a lot closer together.’

Joel’s friend Ben carried out CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after remembering a lesson he had in school the year before.

He said: ‘We'd had a bike ride and had stopped to play a game of football when Joel suddenly collapsed.

‘We thought he was mucking about at first so kicked the ball to him but he didn't react so we knew then that something was seriously wrong.

Back on his feet: Joel, pictured at Birmingham Children's Hospital with his mother Andrea, father James and his twin sister Imogen, is expected to make a full recovery

Back on his feet: Joel, pictured at Birmingham Children's Hospital with his mother Andrea, father James and his twin sister Imogen, is expected to make a full recovery

Best buddies: The 16-year-olds, pictured L-R are Ben, Rhodri and Sam have all been awarded for their bravery when Joel suffered a cardiac arrest

Best buddies: The 16-year-olds, pictured L-R are Ben, Rhodri and Sam have all been awarded for their bravery when Joel suffered a cardiac arrest

‘I think we just did what we did automatically; I don't think it really sunk in until Joel had been put in the ambulance.

PERFORMING CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

Always start with calling 999 before performing any type of CPR.  If you have not been trained in CPR, your should do chest compression only:

  1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
  2. Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands.
  3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5–6cm on their chest.
  4. Repeat this until an ambulance arrives.

Try to perform 100-120 chest compressions a minute.

If you’ve been trained in CPR  you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths.

Source: NHS Choices

‘I had done some CPR as part of Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and we had a lesson about the heart in biology last year so I just did what I could.

‘Joel was sick as well so I knew we had to clear his airways and I did mouth-to-mouth.’

Joel's mother Andrea, 44, a nurse, said yesterday: ‘Joel is very lucky to have such good friends.

‘They saved his life, I hate to think what would have happened if he was on his own.

‘Everyone should learn how to do CPR because you never know when you'll need to use it.’

Joel is expected to be in hospital until Tuesday when he will undergo a cardiac ablation to repair his irregular heartbeat.

Cardiologist Dr Vinay Bhole, who is treating Joel, said: ‘With Joel's condition it is an extra electrical condition in the heart and mostly it didn't cause problems.

‘Certainly not heart attacks anyway.

‘The majority of young people don't collapse. But because Joel did we are going to do the operation to hopefully get rid of that extra electrical connection

‘If it is successful he will not need any more medication and if it is not then he will need another operation so we can try again.’

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