On 4th April 2025, nine-year-old Jack’s family experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when he suddenly collapsed during a PE lesson at school in Portadown. Thanks to the quick actions of his teachers, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance NI and the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) clinicians, Jack is here today, and his family say they will be forever grateful for the care that saved their little boy’s life.
It was the week before the Easter holidays and Jack had been staying with his grandparents. That morning, he was in great form, playing his games, laughing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
After being dropped off at Birches Primary School with his brother and little cousin, the day carried on as normal. But at 11:37am, everything changed.
Jack’s mum, Nicole, received a call from the school secretary asking her to come to the school immediately as there had been an incident during PE.
“At first, we thought maybe he’d bumped his head or had a fall,” she said. “Cardiac arrest never even crossed our minds.”
When they arrived, the principal and secretary met them in tears and brought them inside. In the assembly hall, Jack lay unconscious on the floor.
“It was terrifying, every parent’s worst nightmare. Seeing him lying there like that is something I’ll never forget.”
Jack had suffered a cardiac arrest during PE and had no heartbeat for 15 minutes. His teachers immediately began CPR and used the school’s defibrillator. Their quick thinking provided essential resuscitation until paramedics arrived moments later, followed closely by the Air Ambulance helicopter, which landed directly in the playground.
The HEMS team, combined with the NIAS teams worked tirelessly at the scene before transferring him to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
“It was so frightening watching it all happen, but the ambulance crews and Air Ambulance team were incredible,” his mum said. “They were calm, focused and never stopped working on him. That gave us hope.”
Jack was cared for in intensive care and, after six long days, was gradually woken from the coma. To his family’s relief, he began breathing on his own very quickly and started responding well. He was later moved to Clark Clinic Ward, a specialist children’s cardiology unit, where he stayed for two weeks.
During that time, he travelled to Dublin for surgery to have an implantable defibrillator fitted to protect his heart in the future.
On 23rd April, Jack finally returned home.
He has since been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and takes daily heart medication, but his recovery has been nothing short of remarkable.
“Despite everything he’s been through, he’s just been so brave,” his mum added. “He’s gone from strength to strength. We’re just so proud of him. We got our boy back and that’s thanks to everyone who helped save his life that day.”
Reflecting on the experience, the family say the speed and specialist care provided by the teachers, NIAS and HEMS made all the difference.
“When you’re told your child’s heart has stopped, you think the worst. Knowing that a doctor and paramedic could reach him so quickly and give him that level of care before he even reached hospital is unbelievable. We truly believe the Air Ambulance helped give Jack his second chance.”
The HEMS that attended Jack is tasked on average twice every single day. The service is provided through a partnership between the Air Ambulance NI Charity and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The medical team of a doctor and paramedic can deliver life-saving interventions at the scene that can make a meaningful difference. The air ambulance flies at approximately 180mph, and its operation is only possible thanks to donations and fundraising by the public. The charity needs to raise £8,200 every single day to keep the service running and be there for patients like Jack.
