Patient returns to hospital to thank staff who saved his life
A former patient has returned to Hammersmith Hospital for the first time since very nearly dying after a cardiac arrest in 2023 - to meet and thank the hospital staff who saved his life and nursed him back to health over four weeks.Matthew Allick, an actor and model in his early 40s, believes he’s been given a second chance of life and wants to share his story to show his gratitude for the NHS and to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood.
Matthew’s story
In September 2023, Matthew called the London Ambulance Service after feeling intense pain in his chest and was taken to Hammersmith Hospital’s heart assessment centre, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. It was in this specialist environment that his cardiac arrest happened, which left him clinically dead - without a heartbeat and not breathing. Fortunately, specialist staff were on hand and able to resuscitate him, before placing him in an induced coma so they could treat him.
CT scans helped the clinical team work out that Matthew’s cardiac arrest was caused by a massive pulmonary embolism (when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your lungs). They then worked with interventional radiology to perform a catheter directed thrombolysis procedure to dissolve the clots and, over the coming days, gave him multiple blood transfusions.
After five days in the intensive care unit, Matthew was well enough to be discharged to the hospital’s cardiac ward where he spent the next three and a half weeks recovering and starting his rehabilitation, with input from dieticians and physiotherapists.
The visit
Matthew understandably couldn’t remember much about his time at Hammersmith Hospital, particularly his initial treatment, which meant this reunion and reliving what happened was very emotional. It was also the first time he’d met the wider range of staff who cared for him and visited all the areas he was treated in, including: the heart assessment centre, intensive care unit, the imaging department and cardiology ward.
Matthew’s rehabilitation over the coming months was long and tough. This involved having to relearn many of the basics of life, from feeding himself to walking and then lifting weights to get his strength back. He’s also had to adapt his lifestyle – exercise is more about walking than boxing these days – and faced some challenges in his personal life.
But he feels that everything he's been through has made him stronger and more resilient. He’s in a good place now, with his family life and working, modelling and acting – even alongside Steve McFadden (who plays Phil Mitchell) in an episode of Eastenders. He feels that everything that happened helped him to evaluate his life and refocus on what he feels is most important.
Matthew is incredibly grateful to the many NHS staff who helped him – from the London Ambulance Service to the hospital staff and those who donate blood. Since recovering, he has started working with NHS Blood and Transplant to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood, particularly among Black heritage communities. Matthew himself is of Black heritage and was aware that his chances of recovery would be improved by receiving matched blood from Black heritage donors.
Matthew said: “I’m so grateful to the NHS, and all the people and teams who helped save my life.
“It was an emotional experience returning to the hospital and reliving what happened. I was struck by how many people from different parts of the NHS were involved in helping me: the paramedics who brought me in, the many doctors and nursing staff from different teams across the hospital and everyone who gives blood too. I simply wouldn’t be here today without you.
"I feel incredibly blessed, like God has given me a second chance at life. I'm committed to making the most of this which has helped me overcome some huge challenges over the past couple of years, including being made redundant, the breakdown of a long-term relationship and some health difficulties in my family.
“Everything that happened has helped me revaluate what’s important in life, which is God, health, family and living with integrity. I’m incredibly passionate about sharing my story, both to show how critical blood donation is and hopefully to show other people that it’s possible to come out the other side.”
Dr Behrad Baharlo, consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, was part of the team who cared for Matthew back in 2023. He said: “It was wonderful for us to meet Matthew again, to see him doing so well and sharing his story to inspire others to give blood.
“I remember him very well, caring for him when he was in intensive care at Hammersmith Hospital. It was very unusual and sad to see such a young man have a cardiac arrest. I remain so proud of how so many colleagues from different disciplines came together to help him – from our nurses and pharmacists to colleagues in interventional radiology and pulmonary hypertension. It was a huge team effort and a reminder of the power of the NHS.
“We rely on having good levels of blood stocks to treat people like Matthew. It's brilliant that he’s now trying to help other patients by raising awareness of this.”
Dee Thiruchelvam, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Chief Nursing Officer, said: “Matthew’s story shows just how powerful blood donation can be. Thanks to the generosity of donors, he was able to receive the transfusions that saved his life and return home to his family. Every donation really does make a difference - it gives patients like Matthew a second chance at life.
“Blood types such as O negative and B negative are particularly important, as they are often used in emergencies and are more common among people of Black heritage.
“This year, we need 16,000 more Black heritage donors to come forward to help patients across the country. If you’re able to, please make an appointment to give blood - your kindness could save someone’s life.”
Find out more about blood donation and how to book an appointment: www.blood.co.uk.
