Schoolboy wins 'Heart Hero' award after saving dad's life with emergency CPR in Edinburgh

A schoolboy from Edinburgh has won a prestigious award after saving his dad’s life with emergency CPR.

Brodie Hatfield, who was 14 at the time, came to dad Rob’s rescue after he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home in bed in November last year.

He stayed calm and asked mum Karen to step aside when she began to panic, and instead directed her to phone the medics while his younger brother Blake waited for the ambulance at the front door.

Rob, 54, recalled: “It was a perfectly normal Saturday night, and I just went to bed not feeling any different than normal. The next thing, I was awake and in hospital being told the story about what happened.”

After receiving training in the life-saving skill at school, he performed the maneuver like a professional – breaking his dad’s ribs in the process.

Brodie kept doing the CPR until paramedics arrived then Rob, an electronics engineer, was taken to hospital and put in an induced coma for several days.

Mum, Karen, said: “I heard Rob make this really strange noise, almost like a snore but much more than that. I wasn’t sure if he was asleep, so I tried to wake him up and at that point Brodie heard me and he came through.

“It was Brodie who said ‘I think we need to phone somebody’, so I phoned 999 and put it on speakerphone. Rob at this point was completely still, silent, unconscious.

“The call operator told me to start CPR and started to talk me through it and I attempted to start it, but then Brodie was saying ‘I know what to do, I’ve done this at school, I can do it’.

“I was conflicted because I thought it’s not fair for my child to have to do that to his own father, if he’s not going to make it, but the other part was saying I don’t think I am doing this correctly. There is probably a better chance of a good outcome if Brodie does it.

“He was amazing, honestly, it was like watching a professional. I think if he hadn’t been able to do that, we would have a very different outcome.”

Brodie’s delivery of the procedure has been credited with saving his father’s life.

He has now been named a Heart Hero at the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) seventh annual awards ceremony.

The charity’s celebration recognises inspiring individuals who have shown remarkable bravery or have gone above and beyond to help others while coping with the devastating impact of heart and circulatory disease. 

The red carpet was rolled out for celebrities including David and Frankie Seaman, Ollie Proudlock, British Olympic gymnasts Becky and Ellie Downie, and David Ginola for the celebrations at London’s Bloomsbury Ballroom, on December 3.

Brodie, now 15, attended with his proud family by his side, and said afterwards: “I don’t feel like a hero. It was just lucky I knew what to do and I think all kids at school should learn how to do CPR.”

Karen added: “He’s never been a bragger. He obviously told his friends, but I’ve had parents coming up to me saying they had no idea.”

Rob, an electronics engineer, has gone on to recover, although the cause of his cardiac arrest remains unexplained.

He now has an ICD implanted which will monitor his heart rhythm and deliver a shock if it detects a dangerous abnormal rhythm.

He added: “It is fantastic that Brodie was able to do what he had to do. Because they were able to react so quickly those seconds counted and made the world of difference.

“I had a cardiac device fitted which was straightforward and it’s in there and doing its job and a combination of that and medication mean I have been slowly and steadily recovering.

“Obviously I am hugely proud of Brodie but it’s not something we have long conversations about. He’s a teenager! We know what he’s done, and that sort of thing stays with you for life, it’s just amazing.

“You tell people the story about it, colleagues at work, how your 14-year-old son has done this, and you find that they are booking themselves onto training courses for CPR. A lot of people have said they are doing training courses because of what happened to me.”

Biology and pupil support teacher Rikki Breach from Craigmount High School, who was responsible for teaching Brodie and his year group CPR skills when he was in S2, said he “couldn’t be prouder”.

He said: “As his teacher, learning about Brodie’s quick thinking and bravery fills me with immense pride.  It is my hope that pupils never need to use their CPR training, but if they ever need to, they can do so effectively.  His dedication to learning CPR and applying it in a real-life emergency to save his father’s life is truly commendable. 

“Brodie’s actions are a testament to the importance of CPR training and the incredible impact it can have.  I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Joan Griffiths, Edinburgh City council education, children and families convener, added: “It is absolutely wonderful that Brodie has been recognised as a CPR Hero at this year’s British Heart Foundation Heart Hero Awards. His quick-thinking ultimately saved the life of his dad and there could have been a very different outcome if he hadn’t acted fast.

“It is fantastic to hear that this was only possible because his guidance teacher at Craigmount High School, Mr Breach, had taught Brodie’s class valuable CPR skills. We are really proud of Brodie and congratulate him on this fantastic acknowledgment.”

There are over 3,100 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Scotland. Tragically, just one in ten people survive, a statistic the BHF Scotland is determined to improve by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR.

Performing immediate PR and defibrillation in the event of a cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death.

David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest, so it is wonderful that Brodie had the skills and bravery to step up and help his dad when it mattered.

“He is truly a deserving Heart Hero, and we are full of admiration and pride for his extraordinary efforts.”