Dermot’s story: A second chance at life

Dermot has always been a Birmingham Blues fan. It runs in the family.

Generations before him had followed the club, and it was his dad who took him to his very first match. From that moment on, Dermot fell in love with the Blues — the atmosphere, the loyalty, the sense of belonging.

On the night everything changed, Dermot was planning to watch a Blues game at home.

At the last minute, he decided to head to the pub instead. It felt like an ordinary decision — one that would unknowingly save his life.

As soon as he ordered his drink at the bar, Dermot collapsed from his chair. He had suffered a cardiac arrest.

“I was incredibly lucky,” Dermot says. “I happened to be in a pub where people knew what to do.”

Two customers immediately began CPR, and a defibrillator was available on site. Emergency services were called without hesitation.

Without that fast action, Dermot knows the outcome could have been very different.

In the months before his cardiac arrest, Dermot had noticed changes in his health. From around December 2024, he began experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath.

He visited his GP and was referred for tests, including a chest scan.

However, by August, he still hadn’t received any results — those results only arrived the week after his cardiac arrest.

After the incident, Dermot was admitted to Heartlands Hospital, where he spent several weeks receiving acute care. The early period remains a blur.

“I don’t remember much of the first two or three weeks,” he explains.

“It’s just blank.”

Dermot is deeply grateful to the staff at Heartlands Hospital for their care and support. When the time came for rehabilitation, Heartlands staff made the decision to transfer to Circle Rehabilitation Hospital — a choice he describes as one of the best decisions in his recovery.

Dermot stayed at Circle Rehabilitation for almost ten weeks.

During that time, he worked closely with the multidisciplinary team on rebuilding his strength, balance, concentration, and memory.

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions focused on helping him regain independence — from communicating confidently with others to managing everyday tasks.

“The staff were amazing,” Dermot says.

“Everyone was kind, helpful, and supportive. Rehab can be tough but knowing you can talk to anyone when you need to really helps.”

He also appreciated the environment itself — the privacy of a spacious room, the quality of the food, and the feeling of being truly looked after during a vulnerable stage of his recovery.

Now back home, Dermot has gradually returned to his usual routine. He continues to focus on his walking and exercises, determined to regain enough strength to return to what he loves most — going back to the football ground to watch Birmingham Blues play live again.

One particularly emotional moment came when Dermot returned to the pub where his cardiac arrest occurred — The Farthings in Green Lane in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

Seeing him walk back in was a moment of relief and joy for the staff.

“Collette, the bar manager, was the one who called the emergency services and helped with CPR,” Dermot recalls.

“Hannah, who also works there, helped too. When they saw me, they were so happy — and I could feel how relieved they were.”

There is still one person Dermot hopes to meet: Jimmy, a customer in the pub who also performed CPR on him that night. Dermot hasn’t had the chance to thank him yet — but he plans to.

Reflecting on his experience, Dermot has one clear message.

“I was very lucky that people knew how to do CPR and that there was a defibrillator there. We should have them everywhere.

You never know whose life you might save.”

Looking ahead, Dermot is embracing life with a renewed perspective. One of his goals is to go skiing again — something he loved years ago.

“After everything that’s happened,” he says.

“I feel like I need to enjoy life and do the things I love. Dermot’s story is one of chance, community, and recovery — and a powerful reminder that quick action, training, and rehabilitation can truly save lives.”