From the finish line to cardiac arrest
Last year, Alex was metres from the Hackney Half finish line when she collapsed.
“I had no idea what had just happened. The last thing I remember was thinking that I should slow my pace and go back to walking. Other than that, I was feeling good, feeling strong.”
What had started as a perfectly normal race day in East London ended in a medical emergency. Alex had gone into cardiac arrest.
“You just don’t expect this sort of thing to happen with you’re in your early thirties.”Alex
Paramedics reached her within six seconds and began CPR at the side of the course. She was rushed to The Royal London Hospital for emergency tests before being transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital for further investigations.
Alex (second from right to left on first row) and friends
Emergency care at The Royal London and St Bartholomew’s
After several days in hospital, Alex was diagnosed with long-QT syndrome – a heart rhythm disorder which, when triggered, can lead to fainting, seizures and sudden cardiac arrest.
She was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a small device which continuously monitors the heart’s rhythm and delivers small shocks as and when it’s needed.
Looking back, what stays with her most is the care she received from staff across both hospitals:
“Everyone I came into contact with, whether it was a consultant, one of the nurses or the cleaning team who came in to change my bed, was absolutely brilliant.”Alex
The cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) attached to monitor Alex's heart
Returning to Hackney Half 2026
This year, she is going back to Hackney Half.
Now keeping fit and healthy, Alex admits she has felt unsure and nervous at times – but one feeling rose above the rest: determination.
“I will not be defeated,” Alex says. “A little bit of fear started to creep in, where I wondered: ‘What if I can’t do these things ever again?’ I spoke to Charlotte, my cardiac nurse, who helped with advice on how to do it in a safe way. I just have to carry on and not let the fear beat me.”
Alex has now been medically signed off to run Hackney Half 2026 safely, with guidance from her clinical team.
With her newfound motivation, she decided to run the Hackney Half again this year and fundraise for Barts Charity:
“After that very first ambulance, it was Barts Health who looked after me. So, the decision to fundraise for Barts Charity was an easy one to make.”Alex
Alex in the hospital
Run Hackney Half 2026
Join us for our biggest team ever at this year's Hackney Half Marathon and help raise funds for our East London hospitals