Small Island, Big Heart Project Set To Improve Support For Cardiac Arrest Survivors On Isle Of Wight

It can be difficult to imagine how hard it is to receive a call saying that a loved one has suffered a cardiac arrest — or to be asked to perform CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

The impact on survivors, families and bystanders shouldn’t be underestimated — and thanks to national funding and staff at Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, the experience of those affected is set to improve.

The Small Island, Big Heart project is managed by the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and builds on existing work to increase survival rates.

This includes expanding access to CPR training and Public Access Defibrillators (PADs), while also strengthening support for survivors, co-survivors and witnesses through the Isle of Wight Ambulance Life After Cardiac Arrest (LACA) network.

LACA has been supporting people across the Island for several years, connecting individuals who want to share their experiences with others who have been through similar events.

Through the Small Island, Big Heart project, the team hopes to further develop the network, raise awareness, and offer hope and reassurance to those who need it most.

For Guy Churchill, it started as a normal morning heading out to take part in Parkrun at Appley Park.

Around one kilometre into his run, Guy collapsed. Nearby runners immediately began CPR while someone else fetched a defibrillator.

Guy was shocked twice before an ambulance arrived and he was taken to Portsmouth by hovercraft.

He remembers nothing from saying goodbye to his wife that morning until 48 hours after his cardiac arrest.

Guy said:

“I was lucky to stay in touch with a fellow patient who had the same surgery on the same day. We’ve been able to compare aches, pains and symptoms.

“Around three months after leaving hospital, Louise from LACA contacted us to check how I was doing and to ask whether my wife would like support too.

“It was nice to have a caring voice asking if we were (alright).

"Without that contact, we would have felt very alone.”

Louise Walker, Head of Education and Community Response at IWAS, said:

“Having the privilege of working with cardiac arrest survivors is something I am incredibly grateful for.

"You know we are making a real difference when survivors and their loved ones tell us how important this support has been.

“To anyone going through this — please remember there is support out there and you are not alone.”

One couple who truly understand the value of the group are Gwen and her now-husband Bob.

While Valentine’s Day holds meaning for many, for them it marks three years since Bob collapsed at home and Gwen began CPR.

Thanks to Gwen’s quick actions and the care Bob received, he survived — and after 25 years together, he later proposed.

The pair were married three months afterwards.

Gwen said:

“It’s hard for people to understand that you watched your loved one die, but the LACA group showed me I wasn’t alone.

"Family and friends were incredibly supportive, but they didn’t understand it in the same way.

“As co-survivors, we need information to help make sense of what happened and separate emotion from fact.

"We still have tears and low moments because the shock never leaves you — but I truly believe it’s important to connect with others who have lived through the same experience.”

The Small Island, Big Heart project aims to ensure no one on the Isle of Wight faces cardiac arrest recovery alone — offering practical help, emotional support and a community that understands.