‘He was gone’: Mother recalls saving son after his heart stopped in pool
▶ Doctors discovered Leonardo, 11, has heart defect in case that has led to calls for public to have check-ups
An Abu Dhabi resident has expressed relief after helping to save her son’s life in an “absolutely horrendous” incident when his heart stopped at a community swimming pool.
Martina McGeehan, 45, who is from Scotland, rushed to the aid of Leonardo, 11, when he suffered cardiac arrest during a family outing in February.
She pulled him out of the pool and administered CPR before an ambulance arrived.
Doctors discovered Leonardo has a condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast for a matter of seconds, hours or days.
It affects between one and three in every 1,000 people around the world and can be deadly, Johns Hopkins Medicine has said.
Leonardo’s case has prompted doctors to call for people who think they may have the condition to have a check-up.
“He was gone,” said Ms McGeehan, whose daughter was also at the pool.
“This has been one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. It was awful – absolutely horrendous.
“It is a bizarre thing to say, but we were lucky.
“We were lucky that this happened outside where I was surrounded by people to help.
“We were lucky because of all the amazing help we got from everyone.”
Leonardo had a second cardiac arrest at the hospital but has since recovered.
“This could have been a completely different story,” Ms McGeechan said.
Leonardo received further treatment at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi.
Dr Christopher Duke, a consultant paediatric cardiologist at the hospital, said it was only the second time in his 20-year career that he had seen WPW syndrome cause cardiac arrest.
“Children with this syndrome usually present with palpitations and it is very rare for such patients to suffer a cardiac arrest,” he said.
“We decided to perform a paediatric radio-frequency ablation to treat the condition.”
The procedure uses radio-frequency waves to remove extra tissue in the heart that can cause it to short-circuit.
“Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome could be the reason why a few adults and children have died of sudden death,” Dr Duke said.
“The electrical abnormality present in those with it can’t be seen after they are dead.”
Medication can also be used to help regulate the heartbeat of a patient with the condition.
It can be difficult to detect if patients only suffer fleeting and infrequent heart palpitations, Dr Duke said.
He urged anyone with concerns to ensure they are assessed by a doctor, particularly if they are experiencing regular symptoms.
“If you have a fast heartbeat that lasts for one second once a year, you are unlikely to go to the doctor,” he said.
“But if you have fast heartbeats for one hour every day, then you will go to the doctor more quickly.”
Children who have the condition usually present with palpitations and it is rare for such patients to suffer cardiac arrest
DR CHRISTOPHER DUKE
Burjeel Medical City