Cardiac arrest survivor taking on ultramarathon

Peter Corr (left) became a first responder after a passer-by saved his life by giving him CPR when he suffered his cardiac arrest

A community first responder (CFR) who suffered a cardiac arrest on a run will tackle his second ultramarathon this weekend.

Peter Corr will taken to the start line of the Telford T50 Ultramarathon on Saturday with running partner Dave Isaac to raise funds for Telford Community First Responders.

Mr Corr joined the scheme after suffering the cardiac arrest on his daily run in 2019 and says his life was saved by a bystander performing CPR.

"I was incredibly lucky on that day in 2019 that someone had the knowledge and was brave enough to start CPR," Mr Corr said.

"That is why I became a CFR, to be able to do the same for other people in the community and why I am taking on this event to raise money for my scheme.

“The figures don’t make great reading, as roughly only one in ten people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital will survive, so the more people we can make aware of CPR and its importance, the better."

The Telford T50 is a 50-mile walk around Telford that starts and finishes in the Ironbridge Gorge and includes Telford Town Park, Lilleshall Hill, Wellington, The Ercall and The Wrekin along the way.

Mr Corr said: "I’m looking forward to tackling the course again on Saturday and it will be interesting giving it a try the other way round, hopefully it will mean we don’t get lost as much!

"I said last year that doing it once was ridiculous, so I’m not sure where the logic comes from to be trying it again.

"But, if we can help raise vital funds for our CFR scheme, then it will all be worthwhile.”