Survivor Bob’s big challenge (From York Press)

Bob Taylor to undertake cycle challenge in aid of British Heart Foundation

8:11am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

HIS heart stopped beating for 30 minutes before paramedics and quick-thinking colleagues were able to bring him back from the brink of death.

Now a 54-year-old York man is planning to set out on a mammoth bike ride on Sunday to raise money for a national heart charity.

Bob Taylor, of Fulford , suffered a cardiac arrest in January while at the headquarters of his employer B&CE Benefit Schemes, in Crawley, West Sussex.

His story featured in The Press after work mate, Vicky Allen administered CPR for 15 minutes until the paramedics arrived, but it was a further 15 minutes before medics managed to get Bob’s heart beating on its own.

Bob said: “I don’t remember anything about what happened at all that day.

“I do know that I owe my life to my colleague and first-aider Vicky Allen, who remembered a technique from the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) recent TV campaign which showed footballer-turned actor Vinnie Jones performing chest compressions to the tune of the Bee Gees’ hit Stayin’ Alive.

“Vicky, my colleagues and the paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service kept me alive for half an hour until an air ambulance crew arrived and took me to hospital where I spent four days in intensive care.”

Eight months on and Bob says he feels much fitter and has joined the BHF York Fundraising Committee and is “up for the challenge” of the Heart of York Bike Ride, and wants others to join him this weekend.

The 22-mile route and the 40-mile route both start from the York St John University Sports Centre at Nestlé Rowntree Park.

The event begins with registration and staggered starts from 8am to 9.30am. Registration is £20 on the day.

Go to bhf.org.uk/heartofyorkbikeride or phone 01623 624558 for details.