A father-of-three from Birmingham experienced a profound transformation after being clinically dead for 45 minutes following a cardiac arrest, with doctors employing an innovative last-resort technique that ultimately saved his life and reshaped his entire worldview.
A Harrowing Medical Emergency
Sarbjit Singh, a 44-year-old health and wellbeing officer, went into cardiac arrest in November 2020 after contracting coronavirus. During the early hours of November 26, he began experiencing severe chest pains, prompting his five-months-pregnant wife Raj Kaur to call an ambulance. The situation deteriorated rapidly as Sarbjit went into cardiac arrest not once, but four separate times during the medical crisis.
The Critical 45 Minutes
For three-quarters of an hour, Sarbjit was clinically dead - a medical state defined by the cessation of breathing and the heart's failure to pump blood to vital organs. Birmingham City Hospital medical staff worked tirelessly throughout this period attempting to revive him using conventional methods, but all efforts proved unsuccessful. As doctors prepared to declare his death, cardiologist Dr. Arijit Ghosh suggested attempting an extreme new technique he had recently studied.
Innovative Medical Intervention
The groundbreaking procedure, known as double sequential external defibrillation, involves using two defibrillators simultaneously - one placed on the patient's front and another on their back - delivering maximum-dose shocks in rapid succession. This unconventional approach, described by hospital officials as a "last resort" treatment, represented a desperate attempt to restart Sarbjit's heart after all standard resuscitation methods had failed.
"I just couldn't believe what he's done for me," Sarbjit later expressed regarding Dr. Ghosh's intervention. The cardiologist himself credited the patient's remarkable mental strength as a crucial factor in surviving the traumatic medical journey.Aftermath and Recovery Challenges
Following his revival, Sarbjit faced significant health complications requiring emergency surgery to remove a blood clot and placement in an induced coma due to substantial organ damage. Medical professionals initially warned he might never walk again, potentially facing life in a wheelchair. His family had even begun discussing last rites during the most critical phase of his hospitalization.
A Profound Perspective Shift
The most disturbing aspect of his near-death experience, Sarbjit revealed, was the realization that his children had been left without their father during those 45 minutes. "I have no clue where I was," he told the BBC. "All I know is for 45 minutes, my children didn't have a dad. That's a scary, scary thought."
This awareness catalyzed a complete transformation in his outlook. "Every moment for me is heightened, life is just amazing for me," he explained. "I've seen just how vulnerable the human body is, but in my own self I've also seen how resilient, stoic and superhuman it can be. The reason my life's changed is I feel more empowered now than I ever have. I've got such appreciation for breath and for life and a heartbeat."
Remarkable Physical Recovery
Defying medical expectations, Sarbjit not only regained the ability to walk but trained for and completed the Wolf Run - an endurance obstacle race in Warwickshire - in 2023. His driving motivation became walking toward his children, a goal that fueled his rehabilitation efforts. His family described his survival and subsequent recovery as miraculous, noting he was able to celebrate his 40th birthday and witness the birth of his third child following the ordeal.
Medical Community Response
Dr. Mark Anderson, chief medical officer at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, commented on the extraordinary case: "We are pleased that Sarb has recovered following his cardiac arrest in November 2020 and continue to wish him well. It is a tribute to the efforts of our resuscitation team as they were able to maintain oxygen to his brain whilst extended efforts to restart his heart were ongoing."
A hospital spokesperson emphasized that the double defibrillator technique had been employed "as a last resort in this case to save a life," highlighting both the desperation of the situation and the innovative thinking of the medical team that ultimately preserved a father's life and enabled his philosophical rebirth.
