The life-saving message “bra off, defib on” has taken on new meaning for Julie de Mink, who has been researching its impact during her recovery from a cardiac arrest.
In the early hours of 2 January 2026, Julie, a mother of three called 111 after experiencing chest pain. Her symptoms were escalated to 999 and Dispatch Team Leader, James, at the Gillingham Emergency Operations Centre sent clinicians Ollie and Michael to her home.
On arrival, an ECG confirmed Julie was having a substantial heart attack. As they prepared to transfer her to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, she suffered cardiac arrest on the ambulance stretcher.
Michael and Ollie alerted James who prepared to coordinate an additional support while Ollie and Michael delivered a life-saving defibrillator shock, restoring her heartbeat. She was rushed to the hospital’s specialist cardiac unit, where two stents were inserted to unblock her artery.
12 weeks on in her recovery, Julie visited Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre to thank Ollie, Michael, and James in person and hear more about the response that saved her life.
Julie said “They were incredibly kind, calm and their quick actions mean that I am here to be able to meet them in person.”
Michael added “It’s always a privilege to be able to help someone in such a critical situation. Seeing Julie well and back with us is the best reward we could hope for.”
Ollie said: “It was so valuable to learn more about the patient experience and journey. Julie’s visit was very special.”
James said: “Coordinating the response was a team effort from start to finish. Julie’s recovery highlights how vital every second and every decision can be in emergencies and how much of an impact we have in the control room.”
Since her recovery, Julie has taken a keen interest in the research around cardiac arrest specifically in women and has done extensive reading on the “Bra Off, Defib On” campaign. The initiative encourages rescuers to remove women’s bras when using a defibrillator, as studies show women are more likely to die from cardiac arrest if the bra is left in place. Julie hopes her experience will raise awareness and save lives in the future. To read more about the campaign, click here.