A 27-year-old rugby player needed 17 minutes of CPR to survive a cardiac arrest that occurred on the field.
A member of Cardiff's Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd, Steff Howells said he did not anticipate having to spend days in the hospital fighting for his life.
Nevertheless, despite being called "one of the fittest men on the pitch," he collapsed in October 2022.
He is advising more people to learn or brush up on CPR techniques.
Wales experiences about 6,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually.
Steff, who has resumed light athletic activity, stated that he hopes to inspire others to seek help quickly by sharing his story of survival.
"It was just a typical Saturday. The openside flanker recalled, "I went to play rugby on Pontcanna Fields in the morning after getting coffee with a friend.
The next thing I know, I'm waking up a few days later at the University Hospital of Wales with no memory of what just happened. ".
When Steff's heart stopped, he was engaged in rugby play for a Cardiff team.
"I couldn't believe it when I found out I had suffered a cardiac arrest on the rugby pitch," he said.
"I've played more than 150 rugby matches, and I'm young, healthy, and fit.
"I never even considered the possibility of something like that.
Although cardiac arrests do occur, young people are less frequently mentioned in these reports. ".
Dave Pemberton remarked that it was fortunate that there was a defibrillator at the rugby field.
When Steff passed out, Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd medic and consultant orthopedic surgeon Dave Pemberton was on the field.
As another person dialed 999, he allegedly "went into professional mode" and began chest compressions.
We were fortunate to have a defib pitch side next to us, he continued, so we could use it on Steff before he was taken to the hospital.
Days later, he recalled wondering if Steff, who was still unconscious, would regain consciousness while visiting him in the hospital.
He said, "It was a trying time for his friends, family, and the club's community.".
"Steff is our openside flanker and among the game's fittest players.
It simply proves that anything like this can occur to anyone. ”.
Midway through the Euro 2020 match against Finland, Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest.
Steff, who hails from Crymych in Pembrokeshire, is enticing people all over Wales to pick up or brush up on crucial CPR and defibrillation techniques.
I was very fortunate, he said.
My life was ultimately saved by the quick actions of the other team members who started CPR.
. "
