The sheer, gut-wrenching tension of England's dramatic penalty shootout against Switzerland was almost too much to bear for millions. But for 43-year-old software engineer Stuart Brown, the stress nearly proved fatal, triggering a sudden cardiac arrest in his own living room.
A Celebration Turned Catastrophe
What should have been a jubilant celebration after Bukayo Saka's equaliser quickly descended into a nightmare for Stuart's family. As the game went to penalties, the overwhelming pressure became too much for his heart to take.
"I remember the sudden, intense pain in my chest and then everything just went black," Stuart recalls. "The next thing I knew, I was waking up in an ambulance with no memory of the winning goal."
A Wife's Quick Thinking Saves a Life
His wife, Emma, a primary school teacher, immediately sprang into action. Realising he wasn't breathing and had no pulse, she dialled 999 and began CPR under the guidance of emergency operators.
"The call handler was unbelievably calm and talked me through every single compression," Emma said. "It was the longest ten minutes of my life. The game was just background noise – all that mattered was saving Stuart."
The Hidden Danger of Sporting Stress
Paramedics arrived swiftly and used a defibrillator to shock Stuart's heart back into a normal rhythm before rushing him to hospital. Doctors confirmed he had suffered a stress-induced cardiac arrest, a phenomenon that sees a spike in cases during major sporting events.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Sarah Wilkins issued a stark warning: "Extreme emotional stress releases a surge of adrenaline which can stun the heart muscle. While rare, it's a very real risk, particularly for those with undiagnosed heart conditions."
A New Lease on Life
Now recovering at home with an implanted defibrillator, Stuart has a new perspective. "I'll still support England, but perhaps a little less intensely," he jokes. "I'm just incredibly grateful to the NHS heroes – the call handler, the paramedics, the doctors – who gave me a second chance. I should have been a statistic, but their skill meant I got to see my kids grow up."
His story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of knowing basic CPR, a skill that can truly mean the difference between life and death.
