‘LIKE BEING HIT BY LIGHTNING TWICE’
Rugby player Brad Houston doesn’t remember much about the two times he nearly died on the field — but he now has a reminder in his chest in the form of a cell phone-sized defibrillator.
The West Coast lock suffered his first cardiac arrest while playing rugby league in 2016.
He was given CPR by teammates until paramedics arrived with a life-saving defibrillator.
“It took 13 shocks and they were still shocking him in the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” wife Lilly told the
Herald on Sunday from the couple’s home in Greymouth.
Then, during last year’s Heartland Championship four months ago, Houston’s heart stopped again while playing for the West Coast provincial team against Thames Valley.
He had gone into Ventricular tachycardia while playing the sports he loves. Now, at just 33, he has a defibrillator implanted under his skin and has hung up his rugby boots.
“What happened has changed my outlook on things 100 per cent. I have two beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife and we don’t put anything off. I have more of a family focus now.”
Houston — who has now hung up his footy boots — can’t remember either incident apart from feeling dizzy.
“It comes on really quickly and I go from feeling great to feeling really dizzy and then bang, I’m gone.”
The first attack saw Houston down for 45 minutes as teammates, and then paramedics, performed CPR. When an ambulance with a defibrillator arrived, Houston was shocked more than a dozen times before his heart reset.
His wife, who wasn’t there, was given few details about what was going on but was told the outcome “might not be good”.
“I was in Christchurch so I had no idea what was going on and because it went on for so long I had people ringing me saying, ‘oh my god he’s dying’,” she said.
Houston made a full recovery but it was slow. After the first cardiac arrest, he was put on medication and had time off to recover. Hereditary heart issues were ruled out.
“That was a huge relief because we have two daughters, Arliah, 9, and Meliah, 6,” Houston said.
Doctors said the probable cause was myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by a virus. In such a young, fit person it was likened to being hit by lightning because it was caused by a whole lot of factors.
“But then when lightning strikes twice you think, okay what is going on here?” Lilly said.
The second lightning strike came four months ago when Houston played for West Coast in their 2018 Heartland Championship seasonopening clash.
“I had got myself back to the gym and was fitter than I had ever been.”
Houston said he felt great leading up to his eventual collapse. Teammates also there when Houston went down in 2016 shouted out “we know what to do — it’s his heart”.
St John Ambulance was on site and the venue had a defibrillator. They did CPR straight away, before one shock from the defibrillator reset Houston’s heart.
“It was the first time the defibrillator had been used and I’m really thankful it was there,” Houston said. “I wouldn’t be here without it.”
Lilly said the second attack was scary but not as daunting as the first.
“As soon as he saw the cardiologist they said you will not be leaving the hospital without some sort of device,” she said.
Houston underwent surgery and now has his own inbuilt defibrillator — or subcutaneous ICD. The cell phone-sized implant sits under the skin, is wired to the heart and delivers a shock if needed.
“I’ve been warned it is like being kicked between the ribs with metal-capped boots so I’m not in any hurry to find out what that is like,” Houston said. “It is great peace of mind for myself, Lilly and the family though.”
Houston said the device made it uncomfortable to sleep at first but he has adjusted to it — and so have his daughters.
“Brad has always been a hands-on dad and the girls love dive bombing him and rough play when he gets home from work,” Lilly added.
“They had to take it easy at first but now we are back to normal.”
The implant means Houston has the freedom to work, go pig hunting and go to the gym knowing if he has a repeat of his cardiac issues, his implant will reset his heart.
The Houstons said they now take nothing for granted.
“We don’t put things off any more and we make sure we get away and make memories,” Lilly said.
The pair also want to see well-signposted defibrillators in every New Zealand community.
“They are lifesavers and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here today,” Houston said.
The couple said their parents, workmates and bosses, as well as the West Coast rugby and Greymouth communities had supported them.
“We live in a really great community where people genuinely care and that has made a big difference,” he said.
Houston added he drew strength from Lilly and their daughters. “It’s impossible to sit around and feel sorry for yourself when you have kids keeping you busy.”
I’ve been warned it is like being kicked between the ribs with metal-capped boots.
Brad Houston