Dad's cardiac arrest inspires triathlon challenge

Tuesday 24 September 2019

24-year-old Charlie Denton is heading to the UK this weekend to compete in his first ever triathlon, in aid of St John Ambulance Guernsey and the Cardiac Action Group.

Earlier this year, Charlie's dad Rick Denton, 57, went into cardiac arrest while enjoying a bacon sandwich in the coffee shop at Les Cotils.

Luckily, two members of the public, who had been trained by St John, were in the cafe at the time and gave Rick lifesaving first aid. St John's Training Manager, who was in his nearby office, was called to Rick's aid, giving him CPR and shocking him with an AED. He regained consciousness before the emergency ambulance crew arrived.

Charlie will compete in the Hever Castle Triathlon in Kent to support the two local organisations, but also raise awareness of the importance of learning CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator.

Pictured: Rick Denton meeting with the people who saved his life.

"We can do so much with relatively little to dramatically reduce fatalities from cardiac arrests and other cardiovascular diseases," he said. "While desperately flicking through information booklets at Southampton Hospital for answers, I learned that effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.

"As I make my way from the icy moat of Anne Boleyn's castle, staggering across Kentish downs towards the finish line I'll be thinking about dad," he said. "I'll be thinking about the day of his cardiac arrest and, despite my reluctant vegetarianism, I might even be thinking about bacon sandwiches. So even though I might be in a lot of pain during this triathlon, I'll be happy throughout knowing that I'm raising money to help reduce the risk of death from cardiac arrest in Guernsey."

You can donate to Charlie's cause here.

Pictured top: St John Emergency Ambulance.