A YOUNG man, whose life was on the line when his heart stopped for 25 minutes, has since recovered to campaign for a potentially life-saving machine at a football club.
Tim Butt, 24, collapsed and went into cardiac arrest in May, and was put onto life support for two days.
The former Mayflower High School student found he had long QT syndrome, a hereditary heart condition, but thankfully his health is now under control.
Mr Butt raised funds on Saturday, September 7 at Billericay Town Football Club's home game against Bognor Regis Town. He hopes to raise enough so that the club can purchase an automated external defibrillator, a machine which helped save his life.
Mr Butt who lives in Rosebay Avenue, Billericay, with his mother, Sue, and father, Andy, said of his ordeal: "It was touch and go – not many people make it through 25 minutes with no oxygen to the brain without brain damage."
The cycling enthusiast, who has one sister, Verity, 21, had been in Portugal training and had aspirations of becoming a professional road cyclist.
But after coming home in May, he collapsed and began having a fit, but luckily his mother was with him and called an ambulance. He regained consciousness at Basildon Hospital, but then went into cardiac arrest and was transferred into A&E.
Mr Butt said: "I was without a pulse for 25 minutes, and they continued doing CPR and I had defibrillator shocks.
"I was resuscitated and put on life support and was eventually woken up two days later.
"I don't remember anything that happened – my last memory was from the day before. It was scary waking up not knowing what had happened. I thought I had hurt myself in a cycling accident.
"It's been a bit of a life change – I had never collapsed or fainted before. I had no idea I had the condition, my family have no history of it.
"Being a professional cyclist is no longer an option, as competitive sport would put too much pressure on my heart.
"It was a big blow for me as it's what I've wanted to do all my life, but although I may not have thought it before, there's more to life than riding a bike."
Since being discharged from hospital Mr Butt has been fitted with a heart regulator.
He said: "This is my life support and back-up. It was fitted through an operation and sits inside my chest – it's about the size of a tape measure."
The Billericay Town Football Club supporter added: "I have always been down at the club and when I heard about the scheme the Football Association (FA) were doing with the British Heart Foundation I wanted to get involved. They will provide a defibrillator for a subsidised cost to football clubs and, having seen how vital they are first hand, I thought it would be good to get one in Billericay.
"The scheme was inspired by [former professional footballer] Fabrice Muamba, and from what I've been through I really wanted to support the cause."
Mr Butt added that Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is also involved. It was a charity he wanted to support, so once £400 is generated for the defibrillator any further money raised will go to this cause.
Mr Butt, who attended Swansea University and studied geography before taking a master's degree in environmental studies, added: "This is the first fundraising I have done but I hope to do other things in the future."
To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving. com/team/timbuttCRY
