BBC Breakfast guest Nigel Owen has reunited with the teenager who saved his life after a cardiac arrest that struck without warning. The emotional meeting took place during Thursday's (October 8) episode of the programme.
Nigel suffered a cardiac arrest while out training on his bike earlier this year. Air cadet Sam, who was 16 at the time, was travelling along the same remote country road and performed CPR until a paramedic arrived at the scene.
A normal day turned into a near-death experience
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Nigel told hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty how a routine day became a life-threatening ordeal. "I felt absolutely fine," Nigel said about the morning of the incident. "I was in training for another Iron Man that I was scheduled to do in June. I was building up nicely, I felt good, no symptoms, I had no warning signs, felt completely normal."
Nigel had said goodbye to his wife before setting off on a 70-mile journey on his bike, and that is the last thing he remembered.
A surprise reunion in the studio
Showing pictures of Nigel before the medical incident, Charlie noted: "You were clearly very fit, you were doing a lot of training. You were in very good health." Nigel responded: "I was fit but not healthy, I think, that's what I have learned since."
He added: "I know that I had a catastrophic cardiac arrest, collapsed in the road in the middle of nowhere, and a couple of people just happened to be passing, and they stopped. They were brave enough to do CPR and first aid on me."
In a surprise reunion, Naga and Charlie welcomed Sam, now 17, to the studio, and the pair met for the first time. Nigel hugged Sam and said: "You saved my life, you know that, don't you?" as the two shook hands.
Full recovery after the ordeal
Speaking about his actions, Sam, who is also a full-time carer for his mum, told Nigel: "It's a surreal experience. When I was last with you, it wasn't under the best of circumstances. The last time I saw you, you were basically, practically dead. And now I'm with you, you seem really well, and it's very weird to be honest."
Nigel said: "Same here, I mean, I have no recollection, I was completely unconscious, I think it's staggering," before he started to get emotional. "Oh, it's quite tricky," he added as he placed one hand on his chest, as Naga reassured him: "That's absolutely understandable," before Nigel told Sam: "It's astonishing what you did."
Thanks to Sam's bravery, Nigel has made a full recovery from his cardiac arrest and is now back working full time. BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
