Justyce Crossman, 23, saved the life of her fiancé David Robinson, 21, after he collapsed during a birthday walk in Hafren Forest near Llanidloes, Wales. David became unresponsive and stopped breathing, prompting Justyce to immediately call 999 and begin CPR. She continued chest compressions for 20 minutes until first responders arrived.
Emergency Response and Diagnosis
Paramedics used a defibrillator to deliver two shocks, stabilizing David before he was airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire. There, doctors diagnosed him with Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA), a rare congenital heart defect affecting approximately one in 300,000 babies. Without surgery, the mortality rate in symptomatic infants is 90 per cent.
David was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for open heart surgery and had a permanent defibrillator fitted. Surgeons have told the couple that David is not expected to have another heart attack.
The Collapse and Quick Thinking
Justyce, originally from Victoria, Australia, recalled the terrifying moment: “We were on our way back and about three minutes from the car park. I looked away to see where the car was and turned back to find David face down on the floor. His eyes were rolling, he was convulsing, and not responding. I called 999 and started CPR immediately.”
David, an electrician from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said he remembers nothing of the collapse: “I woke up in the hospital that night confused and dazed. It didn’t feel real until the next morning. I’ve been active my whole life, playing cricket and bouldering, with no signs of heart issues.”
Raising Awareness for CPR and Defibrillators
Justyce, who previously studied nursing, is now training to become a paramedic. She is working with the charity Missed A Beat to fundraise for more public defibrillators, noting that none were available at the remote beauty spot. “If there had been a defibrillator, the operator could have guided me to use it, increasing his survival rate even more,” she said.
The couple, engaged since March 2025, feel an “eternal bond” after the incident. Justyce emphasized: “It’s so important to know how to do CPR. If I hadn’t known, David probably wouldn’t be here today.”
