Flintshire dad launches life-saving campaign for schools

Paul Maguire, who lives in Gwernymynydd, near Mold, has been told by doctors it’s the same genetic problem – Long QT Syndrome – that also claimed the life of his beloved wife, Janene, in February 2000 at the age of just 34.

It’s caused by a faulty gene that’s so rare it only affects a handful of families across the UK while between 12 and 15 young people aged between 14 and 34 die each week from sudden cardiac arrest.

Paul Maguire of Gwernymynydd contemplates the loss of his wife Janene 20 years ago and his daughter Cara's close shave with death

A pathologist was unable to say at the time what caused Janene’s sudden and unexplained death which devastated Paul and the couple’s three daughters, Leah, then eight, Cara, four and Enya, two.

Fast forward two decades and Cara collapsed at her home in Luton on Saturday, August 8, and her heart stopped beating for more than 20 minutes.

She was resuscitated by a former soldier trained in First Aid who stepped in and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

Michael Briant, Zoe Thorpe and Cara Maguire

Cara, now 24, was taken by ambulance to Luton and Dunstable Hospital where she was put on a life support machine after being given four shocks alongside the ongoing CPR to restart her heart.

She spent 48 hours in an induced coma before being awoken and later transferred to the world-renowned Harefield Hospital where she had an implantable cardiac device (ICD) fitted in her chest which will help restart her heart should it stop suddenly again.

Leah, 28, and Enya, 22, are now also having ICDs fitted before Christmas – just in case they too have the condition.

Now recovered and back home, Cara, her dad and the rest of the family are calling for life-saving first aid techniques - including CPR and using a defibrillator – to be taught to all pupils across the UK.

Cara said: “I’ve now got my ICD fitted and I’m on beta blockers for life but physically I feel so much better.

“Normally your heart circulates blood, but your heartbeats are controlled by electrical impulses that travel through your heart and cause it to beat. But I have a faulty gene, as almost certainly my mum had, that stops those electrical impulses.”

“They can’t find exactly which is the faulty gene but I understand there are only 15 families identified in the UK with the same problem. And of those there’s just me and one other family where they can’t pinpoint exactly where the problem lies.

“I cried with joy when I found out Leah and Enya were going to have ICD’s fitted. I wouldn’t want them to go through what I’ve been through, or worse mum.”

Janene Maguire

According to Cara, she owes her life to her partner, Zoe Thorpe, and friend Michael Briant.

She added: “Zoe saw my lips were going blue and called an ambulance and Michael started CPR. That saved me. I’ve been told they shocked me four times and I was actually ‘gone’ for 22 minutes.

“I’ve been struggling mentally but I’m energised now to campaign to ensure young people are taught CPR and life-saving skills.

“I also want younger people to get regular health checks particularly if they are doing sports. It’s vital.”

Dad Paul said: “Everything that happened with Janene came flooding back. I was absolutely distraught.

“It didn’t make a lot of sense as all three girls had been checked regularly. Cara had shown no signs of any problems and, just like her mum, her heart had simply stopped.

“We have to make sure we get the message across how important it is to have those life-saving skills.”

“I’ll be so much happier once Leah and Enya have ICDs fitted. I never want to go through this again.”

At the graveside of Janene Maguire are, from left, Enya, dad Paul, Leah and Cara Maguire.

House DJ and junior assistant for London-based Anglo Digital Management Zoe Thorpe, 23, has been Cara’s partner for more than a year and they share a home in Luton.

Zoe said: “We have to be so grateful Michael was here when Cara collapsed. Michael started CPR and had he not done so we know Cara wouldn’t be here now.

"I telephoned the ambulance and helped Michael with CPR until the paramedics arrived. I just think, like Cara and her dad, we have to ensure all young people are taught life-saving skills. It has to become second nature, that way we can save lives."

Former soldier Michael Briant, 28, recalled: “Cara stood up said she felt light-headed and suddenly dropped like a stone head-first.

“There were no vital signs, she'd literally gone. I shouted Zoe and started CPR. I learned life-saving skills in the army.

“Zoe spotted Cara’s tongue was back and partially obstructing her airway. We made sure that was clear and carried on with chest compressions.

“The first responder arrived and then the paramedics. They asked me to carry on while they got a cannula in her arm. It seemed to go on for ever and I’ve never been so exhausted nor mentally drained.

“Zoe and I were told the chances were really low, statistically I think they said she had less than a 10% chance of survival. To eventually hear she had survived was the best possible news.”

Gwernymynydd County Councillor Kevin Hughes and his wife, Sally, were first on the scene when Janene collapsed in February 2000.

He said: “It was just awful. Janene worked with my wife at a fashion store at Broughton Retail Park. The shop manager rang Janene and was talking to her when Janene just stopped talking.

“The manager called Sally and asked that we check on Janene. We found her collapsed in the lounge with the phone still in her hand.

“There were no vital signs and I performed CPR until the paramedics arrived and travelled with them to Wrexham Mealor Hospital but sadly she was pronounced dead on arrival.

“It haunts me to this day that she didn’t survive but I think the time that elapsed to us getting there was just too long and certainly over 30 minutes.”

He added: “I did put forward a Notice of Motion before Flintshire County Council and after being backed by my fellow councillors I have been in contact with the Welsh Government urging them to include first aid and life-saving skills as part of the school curriculum.

“We have to ensure as many young people as possible lean these skills so we can save lives”