A dad went into cardiac arrest on his way to Chelsea v Tottenham, then did something paramedics almost never see

Paul Gunning was on his way to watch Chelsea and Tottenham when an ordinary walk to the stadium turned into a fight for his life. What happened next left even experienced paramedics struggling to believe what they were seeing.

He was waiting at security when it happened

Gunning, a 62 year old father from Sydney, had been rushing to the stadium after a car park mix up. He remembers waiting for his sons at security when he went into cardiac arrest.

What makes the collapse even more unsettling is that he said there had been no warning. He had felt healthy and had not experienced any pain in the months or weeks before, leaving the episode as a complete shock.

Less than two months later, he was able to meet the people who helped save him. That reunion came after a recovery that, by any measure, was remarkable.

The second shock brought a response

Senior Constable Ryan Page was about 50 metres away when he received the call about an unresponsive man. After only a few seconds assessing Gunning, he told the people around him to get him flat on the ground and began CPR.

Minutes later, first aiders arrived with a defibrillator. Among them was Captain Roneel Chandra, who has 22 years of military experience. He attached the machine and delivered the first shock, but there was no immediate response.

The team continued the resuscitation steps while working with limited resources and waiting for more help. When the second round of shocks was given, Gunning started moving. Chandra checked if he was awake, and Gunning answered that he was.

By the time NSW Ambulance paramedics reached him, they found a patient who was conscious and breathing. Paramedic Fahim Zaman said it was hard to believe because Gunning was up, talking, alert and relatively orientated. He said it was not something crews often see.

The recovery that led to a reunion

Gunning was taken to Concord Hospital, where he went on to make a strong recovery. When he reunited with the police officer, first aiders and paramedics involved, he told them that without their actions he would not be here.

His story also underlines how much those first moments matter in a cardiac emergency. More than 32,000 Australians suffer cardiac arrest outside hospital each year, and only about one in 10 survives.

Using Restart a Heart Day as a reminder, NSW Ambulance is encouraging people to join GoodSAM, a system that alerts registered volunteers to nearby suspected cardiac arrests while an ambulance is being dispatched.

For Gunning's family, the lesson is painfully simple. Emergency help is something people may never think they will need, until it becomes the most important thing in the world.

Cardiac arrest, and how it differs from a heart attack

Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively. A person will usually collapse, become unresponsive, and stop breathing normally. Agonal gasps can happen, which can look like breathing but are a sign of emergency.

People often confuse cardiac arrest with a heart attack. A heart attack is a blockage that reduces blood flow to part of the heart muscle. It can trigger cardiac arrest, but they are not the same thing. Cardiac arrest is immediately life threatening and needs action straight away.

Possible causes include an electrical problem in the heart, a heart attack, drowning, choking, severe blood loss, drug overdose, or a hard blow to the chest. Sometimes there are warning symptoms beforehand, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or palpitations, but sometimes it happens with little warning.

What to do if someone collapses

If a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services immediately and put the phone on speaker if you can. The call handler can talk you through what to do.

Start chest compressions in the centre of the chest. Push hard and fast, and let the chest come back up between pushes. If you know rescue breaths, give them. If you do not, hands only CPR is still far better than doing nothing.

If an automated external defibrillator, or AED, is nearby, send someone to get it and use it as soon as possible. The device gives spoken instructions, checks the heart rhythm, and will only advise a shock if one is needed. You cannot make things worse by using it.

Keep going until professional help takes over, the person clearly starts breathing normally, or you are physically unable to continue.

Why early action matters, and what to know afterwards

The first few minutes matter because the brain and other organs need a constant blood supply. CPR helps keep some blood moving. A defibrillator can sometimes reset a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm and give the heart a chance to start working again.

A person may appear to improve after CPR or a shock, but they still need urgent medical assessment. Recovery after cardiac arrest can be uneven. Confusion, extreme tiredness, chest soreness, and memory gaps are common afterwards.

The practical takeaway is simple. Learn basic CPR. Notice where AEDs are in places you visit often, such as stations, gyms, shopping areas, and sports venues. If someone suddenly collapses and is not breathing normally, act fast. Calling for help, starting compressions, and using an AED can give them a real chance.