A former Down hurler, Stephen Keith, shared his harrowing experience of suffering a cardiac arrest during a gym session and credited his training partners for his survival. The incident occurred at a gym in Portaferry, where Keith collapsed after a workout, leading to nearly a month of hospitalization at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital as doctors investigated the cause of his cardiac arrest.

Reflecting on the event, the 39-year-old expressed his gratitude, stating he feels "extremely lucky" to be alive. He emphasized the importance of CPR training and the availability of defibrillators in communities, urging others to take these life-saving measures seriously.

• On the day of the incident, he recalled:

Wednesday morning I was in the gym, just a normal morning.

• After finishing an intense workout, he suddenly collapsed after stepping off the exercise bike.

A trained nurse present at the session immediately administered CPR, and others quickly retrieved nearby defibrillators. Keith noted that the downtime before receiving help was about 20 to 22 minutes. He acknowledged the critical role of his friend, Barry Milligan, who initiated CPR, stating, "Without Barry being there and starting CPR, it wasn't looking good that morning."

Doctors later determined that one of his main coronary arteries was blocked, necessitating the insertion of a stent and the fitting of an implantable defibrillator for precaution. Although he has been cleared to return to training, Keith believes his playing days are over, prioritizing the well-being of his family.

As a father of two young children, he has gained a renewed perspective on life, stating, "I just think to myself how lucky I am to have another chance here."

Keith hopes that sharing his story will inspire others to learn CPR and advocate for defibrillators in their communities, firmly believing that "CPR training saves lives." He concluded, "Communities, sports clubs, and organizations need defibs and they need to make sure they're working - it saved my life."