'I was not overweight or had risk factors': How a smartwatch saved a CEO's life who suffered heart attack while jogging

It was a regular morning run for Paul Whapham, 42. The CEO of Hockey Wales then all of a sudden experienced severe chest pain. Recognizing that something was seriously wrong, he managed to call his wife using his smartwatch, who promptly rushed him to the hospital, according to Express.co.uk. Paul was diagnosed with a heart attack caused by a complete blockage in one of his arteries. He spent six days in the coronary unit of the hospital after an emergency procedure.

Recalling the incident, Paul, who runs two-three times a week, told Wales Online: “My chest felt tight and then I was on my hands and knees on the road. Initially it was a bit tight but then it felt like it was being squeezed, like a vice. The pain was incredible."

Luckily, Paul Wapham was only five minutes away from his home so his wife could come quickly and call the paramedics.


Medical examinations revealed that Paul had suffered a heart attack due to a complete blockage in one of his arteries. After an initial assessment in the emergency department, he was swiftly transferred to the catheterization laboratory at the hospital's Cardiac Centre. There, he underwent an emergency angioplasty procedure to remove the blockage and had a stent inserted to restore blood flow.

Wapham also said the he was also diagnosed with pulmonary oedema, where his lungs were filling with fluid.

Paul, who lives in Morriston, Swansea, told Wales Online that he and his wife were initially both shocked that he had a blockage in one of his arteries. “It was a bit of a shock as I’m not overweight and I try to keep myself fit so I had no risk factors."

He also thanked the hospital staff, saying "they were just awesome."