Barton student George Hurdle life saved by quick thinking pals performing CPR

A 19-YEAR-OLD student from Barton is planning to run a fundraising half-marathon just months after his life was saved by a cousin and a friend who gave him vital CPR for half an hour when he suffered an “out of the blue” cardiac arrest.

George Hurdle, then 18, collapsed in November last year with an undiagnosed heart condition following a night out in Leeds.

When he keeled over on a sofa, it was only the quick thinking of his cousin Patrick Murphy and friend Josh Peppiatt that saved his life.

George was rushed to Leeds Royal Infirmary where he was put into an induced coma and spent four days in intensive care. He has since been fitted with a defibrillator.

Now, months after his brush with death, he is fundraising for Leeds Hospitals Charity by running the Leeds half-marathon on 14th May.

George said: “I remember nothing about the cardiac arrest, only what I have been told; I was sat on a sofa and slumped to one side as my heart stopped and I became unconscious.

“There are no words for how I feel about my cousin Paddy and his mate Josh – they were both incredible and no question they saved my life.

“It was so traumatic for them both, and such a hard thing to do for someone you love, especially for over half an hour.”

He added: “My recovery has been really good and I am keen to get my fitness back.

“The Leeds half-marathon gives me a chance to thank Leeds hospital for their care of me and my family, by raising as much as I can to support all they do both in the cardiac unit and the hospital in general.

“This is a very worthy cause and I would greatly appreciate any donations.”

George’s mum Deborah, who is a teacher at Ballard School in New Milton, described how the drama unfolded after George and the boys returned to a flat after a night out.

She said: “George had gone to Leeds to see Patrick and they had had a really good time. Back at the flat George was sitting on the sofa and then, according to the boys, he just keeled over.

“Luckily they didn’t just think he had gone to sleep. They checked on him and realised something was very wrong.

“They felt for a pulse and he did not have one, so they immediately started CPR.”

The pair carried on preforming the life-saving action for 30 minutes until paramedics arrived and took over.

Deborah said: “There was no warning at all anything was wrong with George. He has always been very fit, he loves going running.

“This completely came out of the blue.

“If it had not been for Patrick and Josh he would have died. I cannot thank them enough.

“They learnt CPR when they were doing their GCSE PE exams and it just shows how important knowing how to perform it can be.

“I think everyone should learn how to do it.”

At the time of his cardiac arrest, George was on a gap year after very successful A-level results from Highcliffe School, having studied GCSEs at the Arnewood School in New Milton.

Deborah said: “He had hoped to get his ski instructor’s qualification and spend his time on the slopes before taking up a place at Loughborough University to study chemical engineering.

“This has had to be delayed but George is very keen to put what happened behind him and get on with his life. He is very grateful to Patrick and Josh – they have a unique bond between them now.”

Leeds Hospitals Charity is the charity of Leeds Teaching Hospitals which include Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Children’s Hospital, St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary.

Working with local communities, schools and businesses in Leeds, each year the charity provides £5m to Leeds Teaching Hospitals for equipment, services, education and research.

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/running-the-leeds-half-marathon