Nurse thanks colleagues for saving his life after suffering a heart attack at work

A nurse who cares for heart patients at Medway Maritime Hospital, has thanked his colleagues for saving his life after he suffered a heart attack while at work.

Owen Rogers was working in the cardiac specialist nurses’ office when he experienced chest discomfort, similar to indigestion, coupled with profuse sweating and breathlessness.

Concerned about his condition, skin colour and pain level, his colleagues, cardiac nurse specialists Gemma Chilvers and Esther Arnold, who were with him at the time, hooked him up to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine that was already in the office.

Owen Rogers, Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist

The 45-year-old arrhythmia nurse specialist, from Lenham, said “The ECG showed signs of an evolving heart attack.

“At that point the pain intensified, and I became more unwell.”

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, Esther sent a copy of the ECG to Consultant Cardiologist Dr Luke Dancy who advised immediate transfer to the cardiac catheter lab at King’s College Hospital for a primary angioplasty — a life‑saving procedure to restore blood flow to the heart.

Owen was then transferred by the Cardiac Arrest Team to the resuscitation area, where he was given intravenous morphine before being blue‑lighted by ambulance 20 minutes later to the London-based hospital. Esther accompanied him in the ambulance to ensure he wasn’t on his own.

On arrival, tests revealed a large blood clot blocking a major coronary artery. The clot was removed, and Owen spent the following week in hospital undergoing monitoring and investigations to understand why the clot had developed.

Remarkably, Owen returned to work just six weeks later. He is now symptom‑free and is taking medication to support his heart after doctors concluded the clot had developed spontaneously.

Owen Rogers And Colleagues Who Helped Save His Life

As someone who normally sits on the other side of the patient experience, Owen admits the episode was a powerful reminder of the importance of teamwork, and how quickly expert care can make the difference between life and death.

He said: “I am extremely grateful to all those involved in my care – from those that attended the arrest call, to my cardiac colleagues and the Emergency Department staff who did their job with practised ease and reassurance – as it’s thanks to them that I’m alive today.”

“While I’m extremely grateful to my colleagues Esther, Gemma, and Dr Dancy for the role they played, there were other people involved in my care whose names I may never know.

“I hope that if they see me out and about, or in the hospital, that they’ll tell me they were there so I can thank them in person.”

Annie Donaldson, Cardiology Matron, said: “It is thanks to everyone’s efforts that Owen received the urgent, life‑saving care he needed without delay.

“This was teamwork at its very best and a moment that made us all incredibly proud to work for the hospital.”

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