Fiona’s 14-year-old son Max was bright and gave enormous bear hugs. She lost him in an instant when his heart suddenly stopped
The Sydney mother wants Canberra politicians to hear people who have lost children to sudden cardiac death, saying ‘we need answers’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Fiona Connolly often reflects on the moment she saw her 14-year-old son, Max, collapsed on a Sydney basketball court, heart no longer beating. She recalls the glow of the red and blue ambulance lights…
Fiona Connolly, a Sydney mother, lost her 14-year-old son Max when his heart suddenly stopped on a basketball court. She recalls the red and blue ambulance lights shining on Max's friends as they watched him collapse, and the sound of her own guttural wailing as paramedics attempted to revive him. Max had undergone a routine GP check-up hours earlier and appeared healthy by all official measures.
However, sudden cardiac arrest can strike without warning, making it one of the leading causes of death among young people in Australia, with a 90% fatality rate. There are no public campaigns or national registry to track at-risk individuals, making it difficult to identify and prevent such incidents. Fiona Connolly is advocating for the Australian government to address sudden cardiac death as a public health emergency, requesting immediate funding and widespread implementation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Despite the grim statistics, some survival stories exist, often attributed to prompt CPR and AED use. Experts urge further research to better understand the underlying causes of sudden cardiac death in order to develop effective preventative measures.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
