Quick-thinking first aiders from St John Ambulance Cymru saved the life of a runner who collapsed near the finish line of the Porthcawl 10K. Chris Edwards, 39, had gone into sudden cardiac arrest just metres from the end of the race. Volunteers rushed to his side, performing CPR and using a defibrillator to restart his heart — actions which proved lifesaving.
When Chris lined up at the start of the Porthcawl 10K earlier this summer, he felt confident. An experienced runner, he’d trained well, eaten properly, and prepared like he always had. But what he didn’t expect was that he would collapse just metres from the finish line, and that his life would be saved thanks to the quick actions of St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers.
Chris recalls nothing unusual about the race until the final stretch.
“About 6k in was when it got difficult,”
he told Sam Cook in an interview for the upcoming St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John.
“I remember thinking, if I can just get through the next 2k… then I’ve only got 2k left.” But as he neared the finish, things changed rapidly. “I looked down, started feeling a bit dizzy… I couldn’t work out why people were going past me. My legs weren’t taking me.”
Chris had gone into cardiac arrest.
What happened next, he only knows from what others have told him, including the St John Ambulance Cymru team who sprang into action.
“I’ve been told I collapsed forward. A girl grabbed me by the shoulder and asked if I was okay. I do remember bits from being in the ambulance, but realistically, nothing else until about 12.30 in the hospital.”
Chris spent nine days in the hospital undergoing tests, including an MRI and CT scan. Doctors discovered a genetic heart condition that meant one of his arteries was being partially blocked. He’s now awaiting surgery in London.
Despite the ordeal, Chris is surprisingly upbeat and incredibly grateful.
“The paramedics were brilliant. I owe, realistically, my life to the actions of the paramedics and St John Ambulance Cymru.”
He says the experience has made him far more aware of the importance of first aid and how vital trained volunteers are at events like the Porthcawl 10K.
“This could have happened to me at any time. At the gym, playing football, anywhere. I was lucky it happened at an event like that where the medics were already there.”
His life was saved thanks to the immediate actions of St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers, who recognised he had gone into cardiac arrest and began CPR straight away. A defibrillator was also used to restart Chris’s heart, giving him the best possible chance of survival.
“I’ve done first aid training before, but I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of it,” he said. “Now I understand just how crucial that equipment and training are. Without it, I wouldn’t be here.”
He’s already seen the impact of his story.
“I play for a local weight loss football league called Man vs. Fat. Since this happened, five or six of the lads have signed up to do CPR training. Some were already first aid trained. It just shows the difference awareness can make.”
He also supports the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation, named after the late football manager who died following a cardiac arrest abroad.
“His son Charlie spreads a load of awareness about defibs and CPR, and I’ve always supported their work. That’s something I’ll continue to do.”
Chris hopes to one day meet the people who saved his life and to give back by sharing his story.
“I’ve been asked by St John Ambulance Cymru if I’d like to go in and talk about CPR after my operation. I’d love to. If my story can help even one person, then it’s worth it.”
When asked what he’d say to someone considering a first aid course, his answer is simple:
“Do it. 100 per cent. You never know when you might need it or when someone around you might.”
St John Ambulance Cymru provides lifesaving support at events across Wales and delivers first aid training to people of all ages. To get involved, book training, or support their work, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
‘Sut achubodd St John Ambulance Cymru fy mywyd ar ôl ataliad ar y galon’
Achubwyd bywyd rhedwr a gwympodd ger llinell derfyn ras 10K Porthcawl diolch i feddwl cyflym cymorthwyr cyntaf St John Ambulance Cymru. Roedd Chris Edwards, 39, wedi cael ataliad ar y galon sydyn, ychydig fetrau o ddiwedd y ras. Rhuthrodd gwirfoddolwyr at ei ochr, gan berfformio CPR a defnyddio diffibriliwr i ailgychwyn ei galon — gweithredoedd a achubodd ei fywyd.
Pan wnaeth Chris Edwards sefyll ar ddechrau ras 10K Porthcawl yn gynharach yr haf hwn, roedd yn teimlo'n hyderus. Oedd yn rhedwr profiadol, roedd wedi hyfforddi'n dda, wedi bwyta'n iawn, ac wedi paratoi fel yr oedd bob amser wedi'i wneud. Ond yr hyn nad oedd yn ei ddisgwyl oedd y byddai'n cwympo ychydig fetrau o'r llinell derfyn, ac y byddai ei fywyd yn cael ei achub, diolch i gamau cyflym gwirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru.
Dydy Chris ddim yn cofio dim byd anarferol am y ras tan y darn olaf.
“Tua 6k i mewn oedd pan ddaeth hi’n anodd,”
meddai wrth Sam Cook mewn cyfweliad ar gyfer podlediad St John Ambulance Cymru ‘Just in Case: Stories from St John’, sydd ar ddod.
“Rwy’n cofio meddwl, os gallaf fynd trwy’r 2k nesaf… yna dim ond 2k sydd gen i ar ôl.” Ond wrth iddo agosáu at y diwedd, newidiodd pethau’n gyflym. “Edrychais i lawr, dechreuais deimlo ychydig yn benysgafn… Doeddwn i ddim yn gallu gweithio allan pam roedd pobl yn mynd heibio i mi. .Doedd fy nghoesau ddim yn fy ngyrru i.”
Roedd Chris yn cael ataliad ar y galon
Dim ond o'r hyn y mae eraill wedi'i ddweud wrtho mae Chris yn gwybod am beth ddigwyddodd nesaf, gan gynnwys tîm St John Ambulance Cymru a weithredodd yn gyflym.
“Dywedwyd wrthyf fy mod wedi cwympo ymlaen. Gafaelodd merch yn fy ysgwydd a gofyn a oeddwn i'n iawn. Rwy'n cofio darnau o fod yn yr ambiwlans, ond yn realistig, dim byd arall tan tua 12.30 yn yr ysbyty.”
Treuliodd Chris naw diwrnod yn yr ysbyty yn cael profion, gan gynnwys sgan MRI a CT. Darganfu meddygon gyflwr genetig ar ei galon a oedd yn golygu bod un o'i rydwelïau wedi'i rwystro'n rhannol. Mae bellach yn aros am lawdriniaeth yn Llundain.
Er gwaethaf y profiad, mae Chris yn syndod o optimistaidd ac yn hynod ddiolchgar.
“Roedd y parafeddygon yn wych. a dweud y gwir, rwy'n ddyledus am fy mywyd i'r parafeddygon a St John Ambulance Cymru.”
Dywed fod y profiad wedi ei wneud yn llawer mwy ymwybodol o bwysigrwydd cymorth cyntaf a pha mor hanfodol yw gwirfoddolwyr hyfforddedig mewn digwyddiadau fel Ras 10K Porthcawl.
“Gallai hyn fod wedi digwydd i mi unrhyw bryd. Yn y gampfa, yn chwarae pêl-droed, unrhyw le. Roeddwn i'n ffodus ei fod wedi digwydd mewn digwyddiad o'r fath lle'r oedd y meddygon yno'n barod."
Achubwyd ei fywyd diolch i gamau gweithredu uniongyrchol gwirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru, a sylweddolodd ei fod wedi cael ataliad ar y galon ac wedi dechrau CPR ar unwaith. Defnyddiwyd diffibriliwr hefyd i ailgychwyn calon Chris, gan roi'r cyfle gorau posibl iddo oroesi.
“Rydw i wedi gwneud hyfforddiant cymorth cyntaf o'r blaen, ond doeddwn i byth yn meddwl y byddwn yn ei dderbyn,” meddai. “Nawr rydw i'n deall pa mor hanfodol yw'r offer a'r hyfforddiant hwnnw. Hebddo, ni fyddwn i yma.”
Mae eisoes wedi gweld effaith ei stori.
“Rwy’n chwarae i gynghrair bêl-droed colli pwysau lleol o’r enw Man vs. Fat. Ers i hyn ddigwydd, mae pump neu chwech o’r bechgyn wedi cofrestru i wneud hyfforddiant CPR. Roedd rhai eisoes wedi cael hyfforddiant cymorth cyntaf. Mae’n dangos y gwahaniaeth y gall ymwybyddiaeth ei wneud.”
Mae hefyd yn cefnogi Sefydliad Justin Edinburgh 3, a enwyd ar ôl y rheolwr pêl-droed diweddar a fu farw yn dilyn ataliad ar y galon dramor.
“Mae ei fab Charlie yn lledaenu llawer o ymwybyddiaeth am ddiffibiau a CPR, ac rydw i wedi cefnogi eu gwaith erioed. Dyna rywbeth y byddaf yn parhau i'w wneud.”
Mae Chris yn gobeithio cwrdd â'r bobl a achubodd ei fywyd un diwrnod a rhoi rhywbeth yn ôl drwy rannu ei stori.
“Mae St John Ambulance Cymru wedi gofyn i mi a hoffwn fynd i mewn a siarad am CPR ar ôl fy llawdriniaeth. Byddwn wrth fy modd. Os gall fy stori helpu hyd yn oed un person, mae'n werth e.”
Pan ofynnwyd iddo beth fyddai'n ei ddweud wrth rywun sy'n ystyried cwrs cymorth cyntaf, mae ei ateb yn syml:
“Gwnewch hi. 100 y cant. Dydych chi byth yn gwybod pryd y gallech chi ei hangen neu pryd y gallai rhywun o'ch cwmpas fod ei angen.”
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn darparu cymorth achub bywyd mewn digwyddiadau ledled Cymru ac yn cyflwyno hyfforddiant cymorth cyntaf i bobl o bob oed. I gymryd rhan, archebu hyfforddiant, neu gefnogi eu gwaith, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk.