Student's Life Saved by Stranger's CPR After Collapsing in Birmingham Half Marathon
A dramatic medical emergency unfolded during the Birmingham Half Marathon last May when a 23-year-old student collapsed just a kilometre from the finish line, only to be saved by the quick actions of a fellow runner.
Sudden Collapse During Race
Joshua Breene, a Master's student at the University of Bath originally from Hull, was participating in the event when he suddenly blacked out. He reported feeling extremely lightheaded moments before losing consciousness, with no prior warning signs of heart issues.
"I suddenly became the most lightheaded I've ever been and I knew something wasn't right," Joshua recalled. "That was the last thing I remember before I blacked out."
Life-Saving Intervention
Lloyd Heckler, a 31-year-old physiotherapist at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, had already completed the race but returned to the course to support his girlfriend. When her father alerted him to a medical emergency, Lloyd rushed to help.
"It was a daunting experience and happened very quickly," Lloyd said. "I could see Josh had collapsed on the floor and someone had already started CPR on him."
Lloyd took over CPR duties, continuing the life-saving procedure until paramedics arrived approximately five minutes later. Joshua regained consciousness during this time, famously asking, "Have I finished the race?"
Medical Diagnosis and Recovery
Joshua was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was diagnosed with an atrial flutter - an abnormal heart rhythm causing the upper chambers to beat too quickly, according to the British Heart Foundation.
The student underwent a two-hour surgical procedure to correct the condition and remained hospitalized for six days. During his recovery, he also required dental work to repair teeth damaged in his fall.
Remarkable Connection and Support
In a remarkable turn of events, Lloyd tracked down Joshua through the Birmingham Half Marathon website and the running app Strava, where Joshua had posted about his hospital experience.
"I messaged him on Strava saying I was one of those strangers," Lloyd explained. "The next day, I found him in the cardiac unit and we had a bit of a chat. I was just glad he was alright."
Return to Running
After months of recovery and medical clearance, Joshua cautiously returned to running. He even traveled back to Birmingham specifically to complete the final kilometre of the course he had missed during his collapse.
In March 2026, Joshua successfully completed the Bath Half Marathon to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, conquering both the physical distance and psychological barriers from his previous experience.
"As I got to the start line, I definitely felt some nerves from the memories of what happened last time," Joshua admitted. "But once I got running and settled in... it went really well."
CPR Awareness Campaign
Both men now advocate for CPR training, emphasizing how Lloyd's quick response made the crucial difference between life and death.
"Everyone should learn CPR," Lloyd urged. "It's a life-saving skill, it's easy to learn, and you just never know when you might need to do it."
The British Heart Foundation encourages people to learn CPR through their free online RevivR tool, which provides training in just 15 minutes. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of how basic medical knowledge can transform potential tragedy into survival stories.
