Warriors and Former All Blacks Doctor John Mayhew Campaigns for More Defibrillators

The easy availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) isn’t something most people ever think about. That is, until they or a loved one, has a serious heart attack, in which case the availability of an AED becomes paramount. John Mayhew, doctor to the Warriors and formerly the All Blacks, found himself in this very position in 2015 and as a result has decided to fight for this worthy cause.

Stuff recently caught up with John and told his story and what he was campaigning for…

“Warriors and former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew has started campaigning for automated external defibrillator, or AEDs.

The well known sports doctor has joined the Become a Heart Saver campaign following his own near death experience last year.

If it weren’t for an AED, which a fellow gym goer grabbed from a medical centre nearby, Mayhew would likely be dead. He had been exercising at the gym when his heart gave out.

“After three days in a coma I woke up in a very surprised state in intensive care, to be told by the nurse what had happened,” Mayhew said. “From my medical knowledge, I realise just how lucky I was to have been resuscitated.

“The AED used on me was from the local medical centre 300m down the road – there wasn’t one at the gym. I resolved this by buying an AED for them as soon as I could, realising the absolute need for them in as many places as possible.”

For the next 12 months, the Become a Heart Saver campaign will be giving away an AED each month to a community group, sports group, school or organisation.

Groups will be able to enter online at www.heartsaver.co.nz and winners will be chosen the month following by a team of judges, including Dr John Mayhew.

“Sudden cardiac arrest affects five New Zealanders a day. It’s the leading cause of death in New Zealand, killing four times that of the national road toll,” Mayhew said.

“The scary thing is, sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time, with no warning. I was a pretty fit and healthy guy – I would run once a week and regularly go to the gym. You just can’t predict who it will happen to.””

– Stuff