On Sunday 28th March, 20 year old Aberystwyth University student Caitlin Lory arrived home in Pontypridd with her mother Hayley and found her 24 year old brother Matthew lying on the kitchen floor. Matthew had suffered a cardiac arrest.

While they waited for an ambulance to arrive, Caitlin performed CPR on Matthew, keeping her brother alive. Matthew is continuing to recover and their mother Hayley has nominated Caitlin for a British Heart Foundation Heart Hero Award in recognition of her wonderful actions.

After a difficult few years, where she lost both parents, her brother and husband to illness, Caitlin’s mum Hayley says, “My whole world collapsed when I saw my son die in front of me. My daughter has saved all my families lives by saving my son’s.”

Head of BHF Cymru Adam Fletcher said, “The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but so many have continued to fundraise, volunteer and donate to the BHF. We’re recognising this incredible support through our Heart Hero Awards. The awards also recognise amazing people like Caitlin, who have used CPR skills to save a life. They are truly inspirational and we are so proud of them all.

“We are delighted that Laerdal Medical are the proud supporters of the BHF Heart Hero Awards 2021.”

The BHF Hero Awards will be presented by Vernon Kay at a star-studded virtual ceremony on World Heart Day, Wednesday 29th September.

Find out more and reserve your place here.

There are around 2,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales each year. Just 1 in 20 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Wales.

Every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10 per cent, but immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.

As well as Caitlin there are five other nominees from Wales in this year’s Heart Hero Awards.

CPR Heroes – David Colclough and Rhys Lane from Newport who saved the life of Lee Maher

My Healthcare Hero – Aimee Williams from Llanharan, nominated by Gethin Ellis, a cardiologist

Fundraising in the Community – The Cardigan Branch of BHF Cymru

Fundraising in the Community – Barry Kirk from Port Talbot

About the British Heart Foundation

With donations from the public, the BHF funds ground breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. A world where broken hearts are mended, where millions more people survive a heart attack, where the number of people dying from or disabled by a stroke is slashed in half. A world where people affected by heart and circulatory diseases get the support they need. And a world of cures and treatments we can’t even imagine today. We are backing the best ideas, the brightest minds and the biggest ambitions – because that’s how we’ll beat heartbreak forever. Find out more at bhf.org.uk