“You just never know when something like this could happen to you.” Joe Lovatt is on a mission to thank the team who saved his Dad’s life

Joe Lovatt is raising funds for Epsom and St Helier Hospital Charity by taking on a Triathlon to thank the medics who saved his dad’s life when he collapsed in our hospital.

David Lovatt went into cardiac arrest as he sat with his 30-year-old son Sam shortly after arriving at St Helier Hospital’s Emergency Department, which sees more than 249 patients each day. David’s other son Joe, was enjoying a stag do in Croatia when his dad had a heart attack in October last year and rushed back to the UK when he was told the news.

Joe recalled “He had gone to visit my brother and his granddaughter in Carshalton and said he wasn’t feeling well and his chest felt tight, so my brother persuaded him to go to hospital. He had angina but when he collapsed in A&E they didn’t know it was a heart attack at first.”

“Without the team at St Helier my dad would have died on his kitchen floor, which doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Medics resuscitated David with a defibrillator and performed CPR. Once he was stable, he was taken to St George’s Hospital to receive further care and undergo surgery to fit stents to repair blockages in his arteries.

David is now doing really well, has made a full recovery and is enjoying spending time with his granddaughter.

To thank the teams that saved his Dad’s life, Joe has signed up to take part in the Eastbourne Olympic Triathlon and as a rugby player says he will be moving out of his comfort zone to complete the challenge, which will see him cycle, swim and run on 16 June.

Joe has already raised over £1,000 for the St Helier Emergency Department. The funds will be used to support patients, their families and our amazing NHS staff.

Joe said: “The work that the team do is just incredible. I want to be able to raise awareness of what they do and for people to see they could need lifesaving treatment at any time, no matter who you are or what you’ve done. You just never know when something like this could happen to you.”

Or if you are feeling inspired, check out the range of events we have on offer!

Feeling inspired to thank the teams that have cared for you or a loved one? Please get in touch with us today.