My Daughter Was Pulled From a Lake Clinically Dead. Then Came the Scan

April 6, 2024 began like any other spring morning for the author, who had recently separated from her ex-partner and focused on raising her three children. Her thoughts remained on her youngest children, John, 5, and Ayda, 3, who had recently been diagnosed with autism. The author had begun the process of getting a formal diagnosis, arranging for her daughter to attend a speech and language group and seeking help wherever possible.

However, no healthcare professional mentioned the issue of autism elopement - when an autistic child leaves a safe or supervised area without permission. Autism elopement is a significant concern, as 49 percent of autistic children aged four and above can wander away from safe environments without awareness of danger.

That morning, the author left the house with John while his mother tended to Ayda at the local park. Around an hour later, a neighbor called, informing the author that Ayda had disappeared into a lake. The author raced back to the park, but by the time they arrived, Ayda was already out of sight. The lake's steep bank and inadequate barriers made it easy for the child to access the water.

Upon her arrival, the author was immediately tackled to the ground by police and paramedics, who informed her that Ayda was unresponsive. The paramedics began administering CPR, and an air ambulance rushed Ayda to the hospital.

The author, a practicing operating department practitioner, was left waiting in a room with her friend while medical professionals worked to save Ayda's life. The doctor confirmed that Ayda had been clinically dead, having been deprived of oxygen for up to 20 minutes. The doctor explained that there was a slim chance Ayda could survive if the lake water had been cold enough to preserve her brain. Despite the grim prognosis, Ayda began to show signs of life. She coughed, her eyes opened wide, and she began to move.

An unexpected consultant from Germany shared that cases of children falling through frozen lakes and surviving without brain damage had been reported in his country. Driven by hope, the author's focus shifted to Ayda's recovery. She underwent an MRI scan, during which she sat up, snarled at the room, and attempted to pull out her NG tube and catheter.

This confirmed that her limbs were still functional, and she retained her hand-eye coordination. Further tests revealed that Ayda's three-year-old brain was healthy. To show gratitude to those who helped save Ayda's life, the author has completed a skydive and plans to run the London Marathon in support of Alder Hey Children's Hospital.