Kent walking footballers inspired to learn CPR after teammate’s cardiac arrest

A Kent walking football club has introduced CPR training and leased its own defibrillator after one of its players suffered a cardiac arrest during a match last year.

Player, Dave Cleverley collapsed while playing walking football at Kings Hill in March 2024, but thanks to the swift actions of teammates and our ambulance crews, his life was saved.

On the evening of 11 March, Dave began to feel clammy and was experiencing chest pain during half time. His friend Tim, who works at Maidstone Hospital, and Tim’s son Kieran, a Kent Police Officer, quickly realised something was wrong.

Acting fast, Tim called 999 and told Kieran to get the nearby defibrillator. Moments later, Dave went into cardiac arrest. While Tim stayed on the line to the Trust’s 999 control room, Kieran began chest compressions before using the defibrillator to deliver a shock.

Within a minute of the call being made, ambulance crewmates and Associate Ambulance Practitioners Danielle and Daniel were on scene. They were soon joined by Operational Team Leader Lewis, Critical Care Paramedic Joshua, and crewmates Jennie and Katie. The team worked together to stabilise Dave before transporting him to the William Harvey Hospital, where he underwent major surgery to fit a stent to widen his blocked arteries.

In September, Dave, along with Tim and Kieran, visited the Trust’s Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre to thank some of the team who helped to save his life. They were reunited with Lewis, Danielle, Katie, and Dispatch Team Leader Sarah.

The group also shared how the incident has inspired their football community to take action. Tim and Kieran have since run CPR training sessions at the club, and the team has leased its own defibrillator. To make sure it is always accessible in an emergency, the club has even set the access code as the name of their WhatsApp group.