Father-of-Two Recounts Profound Near-Death Experience After Cardiac Arrest
A newly-wed father-to-be has shared the extraordinary moment he believed he had died, describing an overwhelming sensation of peace and happiness during a cardiac arrest. Rhys Edwards, aged 35 from Penarth, feared he would not return home after suffering a sudden heart failure while on a work trip to New York.
A Sudden and Severe Health Crisis
Life seemed perfect for Rhys Edwards just weeks before his health scare. He had recently married his wife Georgia in a beautiful ceremony, with their young son Archie present, and the couple had just discovered they were expecting a daughter, Wynny. However, during his work trip, Rhys began experiencing flu-like symptoms that rapidly escalated.
"My body was sore, walking was hard, and then I noticed a strange rash across my chest," Rhys recalled. "I thought it was just a nasty virus." Despite his wife's concerns, he decided to push through, but upon landing in New York, his condition deteriorated significantly.
After seeking medical advice, doctors discovered his temperature was 39 degrees Celsius and his heart was under severe strain. He was immediately transferred to a cardiac critical care unit. "I remember watching my heart rate drop from the 60s to 35 beats per minute," he said. "That's when it hit me – something was seriously wrong."
The Moment of Cardiac Arrest and Euphoric Vision
In the early hours, Rhys underwent an emergency procedure to fit a temporary transvenous pacemaker via his right jugular vein. While this initially stabilised his heart rate at 80 beats per minute, a critical accident occurred when the machine was accidentally disconnected.
"The machine was accidentally disconnected and my heart stopped immediately. I honestly thought I'd died," Rhys revealed. Despite the life-threatening situation, he remembered feeling an overwhelming sense of warmth and euphoria as he lost consciousness.
"I was unbelievably happy, sitting with my son and talking to my dad who passed away years ago," he described. "Then I woke up to doctors shaking me. That was the moment I realised how close I'd come." Later that day, he was fitted with an external temporary pacemaker attached to his chest to prevent another disconnection.
Diagnosis and Recovery Journey
Once stabilised and fitted with a permanent pacemaker, further tests uncovered the cause of his cardiac arrest: a rare strain of Coxsackie virus, typically associated with hand, foot and mouth disease. "It was surreal," Rhys said. "One day I was healthy, the next I was fighting for my life because of a virus I'd never heard of."
After nearly two weeks in hospital and an additional week in a hotel, Rhys returned home to begin a lengthy and challenging recovery. "The physical side was tough but the mental side was brutal," he admitted. "I had panic attacks, constant anxiety and I didn't even have the strength to pick up my son. That broke me."
Almost four years after the near-fatal experience in 2022, Rhys has had his pacemaker removed and is now monitored through an implantable loop recorder. He is gradually rebuilding his life, though he acknowledges lasting effects. "I'm not the same person I was before. I still get flutters and worry about pushing myself too hard," he said. "But I focus on gratitude – watching my kids play, enjoying the little things."
A Message of Caution and Hope
Rhys, who works for a global aircraft leasing firm, expressed gratitude to the British Heart Foundation for their crucial support, noting their nurse helpline was a lifeline. His wife, Georgia, ran the Cardiff Half Marathon for the charity in 2024 as a tribute.
He now shares his story as part of a campaign by British Heart Foundation Cymru, which is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK to mark 65 years of funding lifesaving research. A bench has been placed in Alexandra Park, Penarth, in honour of Rhys's experience.
Rhys offers vital advice to others:
- "I want people to know there is life after a heart scare, but recovery takes time. Don't rush it."
- "Seek help – especially for your mental health."
- "If you're feeling unwell for too long see a doctor. Don't assume it's just a bug."
- "If I hadn't spoken to my boss that day I would have died on the plane home."
- "If you've been through a health scare like this I'd say take it one day at a time and just be thankful you're here."
