Her heart stopped for 17 minutes; what she experienced next was eerie. Later, rare genetic disorder got diagnosed

What began as a regular boot camp session for Victoria Thomas turned into a near-death experience that changed her life. After suffering cardiac arrest and being unresponsive for 17 minutes, the UK-based fitness enthusiast was revived by emergency responders. Her path to recovery led to a diagnosis of a rare genetic disease, multiple heart failures, and eventually, a life-saving transplant.

According to The Mirror, Victoria, then 35, had just completed a weightlifting session at her gym in Gloucester when she began feeling light-headed and weak. She told a friend she felt her energy drain entirely, and moments later, she collapsed. Paramedics arrived within minutes and began CPR. As the minutes passed without a heartbeat, concerns grew that she might not survive.

What She Saw While Unconscious

As reported by The Mirror, Victoria later recalled a surreal out-of-body experience during the cardiac arrest. She described the sensation of everything going black, followed by an awareness of hovering above her body. From that vantage point, she saw herself lying on the gym floor with yellow equipment nearby. She did not experience any feelings of calm or see any lights—only the eerie sight of her lifeless form as others tried to save her.

Resuscitation and a Rare Diagnosis

Emergency personnel were eventually able to restart her heart after 17 minutes. She was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary and placed in a coma for three days. After waking, she was fitted with a defibrillator to manage potential future episodes. Over the following months, her heart stopped several times, with the device activating each time to restart it.

It wasn’t until 2021, when she became pregnant, that doctors finally discovered the cause of her repeated cardiac arrests. As The Mirror detailed, she was diagnosed with Danon disease—a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart, muscles, and other organs. Victoria was the first in her family to be diagnosed with the condition.

Pregnancy, Crisis, and Transplant

Her pregnancy placed significant strain on her already weakened heart, leading to regular cardiac arrests. At 30 weeks, an emergency caesarean was performed to deliver her son, Tommy. Though he arrived prematurely, he was healthy and has since tested negative for the disease.

By 2022, tests revealed that Victoria’s heart was functioning at just 11 percent, an indicator of end-stage heart failure. Doctors informed her she likely had only months left to live. Then, in April 2023, she received a heart transplant, giving her a new chance at life.