A runner who suffered a cardiac arrest metres from the finish line of the Newport Marathon is backing St John Ambulance Cymru’s call for people across Wales to learn CPR this Restart a Heart Day (16 October).
Experienced marathon runner Roy was on course for a great time as he approached the finish line of the Newport Marathon 2026. He had trained with his team, eaten well and even taken off his hat for the photo finish. The next thing he remembers is waking up in a hospital bed.
Gaz Lloyd-Ford, St John Ambulance Cymru volunteer nurse, was scanning the finish line – a key spot for medical emergencies – when he saw Roy fall to his knees. Gaz recognised the signs of cardiac arrest immediately and began CPR, while his team of volunteers moved Roy to the nearby medical tent, attached Roy to a defibrillator monitor, checked his vital signs and administered intravenous fluids and adrenaline.
Once Roy’s heart was restarted,he was conveyed to hospital by a St John paramedic ambulance crew. The volunteers then returned to their positions so the rest of the runners could finish safely.
The minute it took to get Roy from the ground into the medical tent was the minute that saved his life.
Roy said:
“I was feeling as fit as I’d ever been. I went into the run expecting to run a personal best.
“I asked Gaz what would have happened if this happened five minutes earlier. The likelihood is that I wouldn’t have survived. They saved my life. It could have happened to anyone.”
Gaz said:
“It was smooth and everybody did what they needed to do. For our volunteers to pull together like that and then reset in seconds to ensure the safety of other people is really impressive. He’s a very lucky man. It wasn’t just me.”
Roy and Gaz have stayed in touch since.
Fewer than one in 10 survive
According to Resuscitation Council UK, fewer than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Restart a Heart Day, led by Resuscitation Council UK, aims to change that by teaching more people CPR.
St John Ambulance Cymru has been leading the way in training people across Wales in CPR. Our impact across 2025 included:
- St John People were involved in successfully resuscitating four people who had suffered a cardiac arrest, all surviving at 30 days.
- More than 20,000 people learned lifesaving skills on face-to-face community courses in schools, community groups and events – 4,881 of them with St John volunteers.
- More than 1,300 pupils and staff at Haverfordwest High VC School learned lifesaving skills in a single day at the launch of the charity’s Defibruary campaign.
- 1,239 volunteers provided first aid cover at more than 1,100 events, helping 1,165 patients.
- 12,209 people completed certified courses with the charity’s Workplace Training Team, including 7,619 first aid qualifications.
Richard Lee, Chief Executive of St John Ambulance Cymru, said:
“Roy’s story shows exactly what happens when trained people are in the right place at the right time. Our volunteers did everything right, and Roy is here today because of it. But cardiac arrest can happen anywhere – at home, at work or on the street. This Restart a Heart Day, we’re asking everyone in Wales to take a few minutes to learn CPR. You could be the person who saves a life.”
To find out how to learn CPR or volunteer with St John Ambulance Cymru, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Feature image: Roy Kemp and St John Ambulace Cymru volunteer Gaz Lloyd-Ford following the events at the Newport Marathon
