Rhys Edwards, a 35-year-old newlywed and expectant father, experienced a terrifying cardiac arrest while on a business trip to New York. What started as flu-like symptoms and a strange rash quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency.
“I honestly thought I’d died,” Rhys recalled after his heart stopped beating due to an accidental disconnection of a temporary pacemaker in the hospital. Amidst the chaos, he experienced an overwhelming sensation of warmth and euphoria, vividly remembering sitting with his son and speaking to his late father. “I was unbelievably happy,” he said.
The Penarth father-of-two received a replacement pacemaker secured externally to prevent further dislodgements. Just weeks before, life had seemed perfect: he had recently married his wife, Georgia, and they were expecting their second child.
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However, within days of the trip, Rhys' health deteriorated dramatically. Despite his wife’s warning to rest, Rhys pushed on, only to find himself struggling to walk and alarmed by a rash across his chest. A hospital visit in New York revealed a dangerously slowed heart rate, leading to emergency implantation of a temporary transvenous pacemaker that immediately stabilized him.
Further tests uncovered the shocking cause: a rare strain of Coxsackie virus, linked to hand, foot, and mouth disease, had triggered his cardiac arrest. After nearly two weeks hospitalized and an extended stay in a hotel to recover, Rhys faced not only physical challenges but also emotional trauma marked by panic attacks and anxiety.
Now, almost four years later, Rhys has had his pacemaker removed and is monitored through an implantable loop recorder. Though his life has changed, he approaches each day with gratitude, focusing on simple joys like watching his children play.
Employed by a major aircraft leasing firm and supported by the British Heart Foundation’s nurse helpline, he urges others not to ignore prolonged symptoms and to seek medical help promptly. “If I hadn’t spoken to my boss that day, I would have died on the plane home,” he said. “Take recovery one day at a time and be thankful you’re here.”
Rhys is part of a group raising awareness through the British Heart Foundation Cymru’s initiative marking 65 years of cardiovascular research. A red bench in Alexandra Park, Penarth, now commemorates his journey and the wider fight against heart disease.