‘My cardiac arrest at an Adele concert’
The sight of her long-time long pop idol made Megan Nicholson’s heart stop beating
Snapping selfies with th her goddaughter as s she geared up to see ee her idol Adele in concert, Megan Nicholson on was the picture of health..
With her 47th birthday y a week away, her adoring g husband Andrew had splurged on a VIP ticket so his wife could get up closese and personal with the singing sensation, who shehe refers to as her “girl crush”.h”.
But the generous gift would almost be the mother-of-two’s last, afterer she went into cardiac arrestest just over an hour into thee sold-out show at ANZ Stadium in March.
“I feel like I’ve been kissed ssed by the angels,” Megan tellsls Woman’s Day exclusivelyy from her home in Sydney.y “I was dead. My family almost lost me. I am their universe.”
PERSONAL GIFT
Knowing Adele shares her passion for Hello Kitty paraphernalia, Megan, a voiceover artist and medical receptionist, bought a diamante bracelet featuring the fictional character that she planned to throw to the star on stage.
Spotting Adele walking her way, Megan seized the opportunity to present her gift, leaving goddaughter Emily, 21, to keep an eye on their handbags gs while she ran towards the front of the stage.
“People throw all sorts of things on stage but I wanted to give her something special,” she recalls. “Once I got to the stage and saw her coming towards me I felt an adrenaline rush, then I felt clammy and nauseous and I blacked out.”
Collapsing in the overheated crowd, Megan went into sudden cardiac arrest – a condition only five per cent of victims survive.
“I’ve always been such a healthy person – I never get sick,” she says. “I’ve had every test under the sun and there’s nothing wrong with my heart. The only explanation the doctors could come up with is the adrenaline rush sent me into cardiac arrest.”
Megan had a guardian angel watching over her that night – fellow fan Stefanie Kokal. The former emergency room doctor was nearby and immediately recognised the warning signs.
Adele, worried, stopped her show momentarily, saying “someone got hurt”, while Stefanie jumped in and began administering CPR.
In an incredible coincidence, the women later discovered
Stefanie works as a technician at the hospital just down the hall from Megan, but they’d never crossed paths.
RESCUE MISSION
Assisted by two other doctors in the 95,000-strong crowd, Stefanie spent 20 minutes reviving Megan before paramedics rushed her to hospital. Struggling for breath, Megan was put in an induced coma in a desperate bid to help her organs recover.
Her husband Andrew, 49, and their children Olivia, 24, and Kurt, 21, were told to prepare for the worst.
“The doctors were 99 per cent sure she’d wake up but they didn’t know if she’d have brain damage or if she’d walk again,” Andrew says. “We were all so scared of a life without her.”
Adele was so shaken by the experience she dedicated Take It All – the song she was singing when Megan collapsed – to her during her performance the following night.
“I wish you a speedy recovery,” the singer said. “I look forward to finding out who you are… I’ll be speaking to you soon, I hope.”
Megan spent six days in a coma, waking just in time to celebrate her birthday in hospital, to her family’s relief.
She has since been fitted with a defibrillator, made a full recovery and even had a message from Adele’s management team saying, “We’re very glad to hear you are well.”
“I feel blessed to have such an amazing family and friends and the hospital staff were brilliant,” she says.
“I was astounded at Adele’s humility and the fact she cared about what happened to me,” Megan says. “I’ve still got that bracelet – maybe I’ll get the chance to give it to her one day. I’m just happy to be here and I plan on living life to the full.”
‘The doctors didn’t know if she’d have brain damage’