‘IT’S a story That might help people’
Coronation Street actor Nathan Graham on his character James’s on-pitch emergency
Hi, Nathan! James collapses while playing football this week. What happens?
James is running back to Shona in goal when he just collapses. It’s touch and go, he’s had a cardiac arrest and there’s no defibrillator unit nearby, so it’s down to Michael to give him CPR while they wait for the ambulance. The paramedics manage to get his heart restarted and he is rushed to hospital.
Did James know he had heart problems?
I think it just comes out of nowhere. Obviously, he is a fit young man, he is used to playing football and running around, so there are no real signs of it from anywhere. It’s just completely out of the blue.
So what’s wrong with him?
James is told he’s got cardiomyopathy. And then he’s told he’s got to be fitted with an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator] to prevent further cardiac arrests. I guess for James, as a footballer, he kind of has a reference point because obviously he’s seen [Christian] Eriksen collapse – as we all saw in the European championships, pretty much the same thing happened to him and he was then fitted with an ICD.
Could James never play again?
He is really worried, he’s had injury scares before but this is another level and he is anxious for what the future holds if he hasn’t got football any more.
What did you think about the story when it was given to you?
I’ve been lucky and am grateful I’ve been given some great stories since I joined so it is brilliant to have another one that might help people. It feels nice and humbling that people trust you with these stories, so hopefully I’ve done it justice.
Coronation Street, Mon, Weds, Fri, times vary, ITV