Woman Recounts Near-Fatal Cardiac Arrest Triggered by Undiagnosed Genetic Condition

Sandra McCartney, 59, experienced a life-altering cardiac arrest on New Year's Eve 2019 while on holiday in Spain. She lost consciousness, stopped breathing, and had no pulse, requiring medics to administer six defibrillator shocks and multiple adrenaline injections to restore her heart rhythm. McCartney was clinically dead for 10 minutes before being revived.

Following the incident, McCartney discovered her heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest were triggered by familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a genetic condition that causes dangerously high cholesterol levels and, if untreated, can lead to early heart attacks and heart disease. She was unaware she had the condition prior to the event.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia affects an estimated 1 in 250 to 500 people, yet a significant majority remain undiagnosed. In the UK, the British Heart Foundation estimates that more than two-thirds of individuals with FH are never diagnosed. Northern Ireland, however, boasts the highest detection rate in the UK.

McCartney described the experience as terrifying, noting she had sustained three cracked ribs from the CPR performed by paramedics. She spent 11 days on ventilation in a Spanish hospital, with her four children traveling to be with her amid fears for her life. She has no memory of the initial days after collapsing and later experienced complications, including collapsed lungs and laryngeal stridor, a condition that makes breathing difficult and noisy, requiring further ventilation.

Upon her return to Londonderry in February, McCartney required a wheelchair due to significant muscle wastage from her extended hospital stay. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from participating in cardiac rehabilitation, which she believes would have aided her recovery. She has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted due to her high risk of another cardiac arrest.

Even simple daily activities can leave McCartney breathless, and she has been unable to return to work. She now volunteers with NI Chest Heart and Stroke and enjoys sewing. Despite the ongoing challenges, she expressed gratitude for being alive, acknowledging that survival after such an ordeal is uncommon.

McCartney's four children have all tested negative for high blood pressure. The Belfast Health Trust operates a screening service for FH, identifying affected relatives of diagnosed individuals through specialist nurses. This program has contributed to Northern Ireland achieving the highest FH identification rate in the UK and one of the highest globally. Once diagnosed and placed on cholesterol-lowering medication, individuals with FH typically require only periodic cholesterol checks for ongoing management.