A woman who suffered cardiac arrest during a workout and was clinically dead for 17 minutes has shared the incredible experience that unfolded while paramedics battled to save her life.
Victoria Thomas, now 41 and a mother from Gloucester, UK, collapsed during a bootcamp training session after suddenly feeling dizzy and drained. She was just 35 at the time.
“I’d only just said I felt dizzy when I suddenly collapsed on the floor,” Victoria recalled.
Paramedics arrived within minutes and began administering CPR, but for 17 long minutes, Victoria’s heart had stopped. Despite this, emergency workers refused to give up, continuing resuscitation efforts until her heart finally began beating again.
A Glimpse Beyond?
While unconscious, Victoria claims to have experienced what she describes as an out-of-body moment.
“It went black, and then I became aware of looking down on my body. I was floating near the roof, watching myself on the gym floor. I didn’t see a light or feel peaceful, I was just watching.”
This eerie experience added a spiritual and psychological dimension to an already extraordinary survival story.
After being placed in a coma for three days and later fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), Victoria resumed life with the aid of the device, which has saved her on multiple occasions.
But her health challenges didn’t end there.
In 2021, after becoming pregnant, Victoria began experiencing frequent cardiac arrests triggered by the added strain on her heart. Doctors ultimately diagnosed her with Danon disease, a rare and inherited condition that primarily affects the heart, muscles, retina, and brain.
“I couldn’t take it in at first,” Victoria said, adding that she is the first in her family to be diagnosed with the disorder.
High-Risk Pregnancy and Emergency Delivery
Doctors initially urged Victoria to give birth at just 24 weeks to protect her failing heart, but she insisted on waiting for the sake of her unborn child.
She ultimately delivered her son, Tommy, via emergency C-section at 30 weeks, after fluid buildup made it difficult for her to breathe. Thankfully, Tommy was born healthy and has since been confirmed free of Danon disease.
Heart Function Dropped to 11%
By April 2022, her heart was functioning at just 11%, placing her on the urgent transplant list. A year later, in April 2023, Victoria underwent a successful heart transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and was discharged the following month.
Now, just over a year after receiving her new heart, Victoria has made a stunning recovery.
“I’ve been given a second chance at life,” she said.
She now plays netball four times a week and is set to represent the UK in basketball and volleyball at the World Transplant Games in Germany next month.
From a gym floor to the global stage, Victoria’s journey is not just one of survival, but of resilience, hope, and the power of never giving up.
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