Life Changing Events

On the 3rd of April 2022, my life changed forever. I owe my life to certain individuals who saved me.

It started with a football tournament at Caldicott Leisure Centre, nothing out of the ordinary. After playing the first match, I was standing talking to the players and collapsed, suffering a cardiac arrest. I was dead on the floor.

One of the players (Shaun) administered CPR and the Leisure centre used their Defibrillator to shock me back to life. 2 Air ambulances, further CPR, intubated, sedated, and off to Cardiff hospital by normal ambulance as I needed constant CPR.

Waking up in Coronary Care, my family and friends had undergone 27.5 hours of trauma, watching me, hoping and praying that I would pull through.

After scans, two stents were fitted to correct a blockage of an artery. Then an ICD device was fitted in my chest which will monitor my heart and provide a shock if I need it. For this procedure, they had to flatline me to test if the Defibrillator was working. Dead twice in 8 days!

Many of you will know our family history, my father died from his 3rd heart attack in 1994 aged 52, my brother died aged 31 in 1996, and my sister also had a heart attack. So I have joined the club.

The Professor in charge of my care is interested in my genealogy and has taken blood for tests and more will follow. My son will also undergo an ultrasound scan. The legacy of Nuclear Testing will always be with us as a family.

I am extremely lucky, to have someone experienced in CPR, to be in a location with Defibrillator and to have the excellent medical attention of the West Wales Air Ambulance service and the NHS.

My wife, sister, son, family members, friends (especially Amanda), neighbours, NHS Staff, and football colleagues have been amazing. Picking up my car and delivering it home, helping with Joseph who unfortunately saw me collapse.

Life can change in an instant and without these special people, I would not be writing this. You never know when your time is up. It obviously wasn't my time yet.

I now have a long road for recovery, 6 months of not driving, hospital and GP appointments, but I am still here. Still campaigning and still pushing for recognition.

I have a second chance and will be taking it, you realise that things are more important and some people are insignificant.

It is important that more defibrillators are installed at venues and portable ones are available. We have purchased a portable defibrillator for the football team.

We will await the genealogy results and continue to monitor the family, but for now, the immediate priority is recovery and I want to thank everyone who has ensured that I am still here and that I can continue my life.

My wife (Mel) and Amanda are running for the 60th Anniversary of Operation Dominic, my father saw 24 bombs in 78 days, so they are running 120K in the 78 days, 5K on each of the detonation days, starting on the 25th April. All sponsorship will go to the All Tests Reunion. You can sponsor them, or take on the challenge yourself by running, walking, or cycling it yourself. Full details can be found here -

The Dominic Challenge

I hope to see many of you at the All Tests Reunion in September, we now have 100 people booked, with a few free places remaining. It will be time to remember those who have passed on and to celebrate the 70th and 60th Anniversary years and that I am still standing. The next edition of ATOM will be slightly delayed but will be out in early May.

Please take it easy everyone.

Alan