A talented cricketer suffered a mystery heart attack days after leaving the UK for a cricket scholarship in Australia.
Ben Aldred, aged 18, had helped hometown Bexley Cricket Club to victory in the National Cup at Lord's just a week before he left for Australia to develop his cricket career.
While visiting family near Perth, on his way to a scholarship in Adelaide, the talented teenager collapsed without warning after suffering a heart attack while walking on a beach with his great-uncle. His uncle immediately started CPR and with the help of paramedics they brought the talented youngster back to life.
Aldred was in a coma for nearly 72 hours at hospital and thought he was back at home in the UK when he regained consciousness.
“I don’t have much memory of what happened,” Aldred told the West Australian.
“From what I’ve heard I basically just dropped to the pavement. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for these people (the paramedics), which is incredible every time I say it. To be completely honest, it’s quite emotional as well to be able to have the chance to talk to them. All I want to say is for as many people to learn CPR as possible.”
Aldred’s father Danny took a six-hour flight to Perth from the Singapore Grand Prix when he was notified that his son had collapsed.
Meanwhile, the youngster's mum Donna was diagnosed with Covid-19 before she was able to catch a 55-hour flight to Perth from the UK.
“We waved him off just four days before and I thought my heart was broken then, not being able to see him for four months,” Ms Aldred told the West Australian. “Then by Sunday, our whole world crashed. It was pretty grim and I just paced for 24 hours.”
By the time Ms Aldred arrived her son had been released from hospital and met her at the airport.
“I almost keeled over myself when I saw him at the airport, I was just speechless and it was very emotional for all of us,” she added.
“I was just like a massive hug for five minutes. Every day is still surreal, even the fact that he is as normal as he is. It’s a major miracle for us — he’s never going anywhere without his mum ever again.”
