Dad's tears after CPR mission following daughter's death

Claire Noakes died after suffering a cardiac arrest

A dad has said it became his "mission" to increase awareness about CPR and how to use a defibrillator after his daughter's death.

Prof Len Noakes, chair of NHS group Save a Life Cymru, has spearheaded the push for changes to be made to driving theory tests which will result in a new set of first aid questions being added early next year.

His daughter Claire Noakes tragically died at the age of 25 from complications following a cardiac arrest in 2017.

Prof Noakes said he was left in tears after the theory test changes, hailing it as a "significant step" towards increasing survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales, which are currently less than 5%.

Speaking previously to NHS Wales, Prof Noakes said he received a phone from his daughter's friend saying she had collapsed.

"By the time we got there, which is only five minutes away, the paramedics were there already working on Claire," he said.

Prof Noakes told Radio Wales Drive he remembered asking if his daughter was breathing when he received the phone call.

The person said she was breathing but "it was funny", the medical director at Cardiff City FC said.

He said she was showing signs of agonal breathing, or sudden, irregular gasps of breath, which is closely associated with a cardiac arrest.

"But you wouldn't expect someone who isn't aware of cardiac arrests to know that."

Prof Noakes said he hoped young drivers having the knowledge and ability to identify a cardiac arrest will help people in similar situations.

"They can get on and dial 999. They will tell you how to start CPR and where the nearest defibrillator is," he added.

Prof Noakes' daughter spent the next nine months unresponsive before she died.

"You can't stop this happening. But you can do your best to make sure other families don't have to go through this," he said.

Driving theory tests will include CPR first aid questions from early next year

Prof Noakes said he looked to other European countries for inspiration when he was appointed as the chair of Save a Life Cymru, which was established in 2019 by the Welsh government to make sure people know what to do if an out of hospital cardiac arrest happens.

He said: "Some have the CPR in the driving test. Combining this with education has led to a significant rise in the survival rate."

Prof Noakes described Wales' survival rate as "shocking" but said he hoped these changes will increase the percentage.

He said it "meant so much" to know that questions are being added to the driving theory test early next year.

But since they are aimed at new drivers, what advice does he have for people who have already passed their theory test?

"Go online. There are a number of online tutorials you can look at," he said.

"If you want to physically learn how to do it there are a number of organisations offering training such as the St John's Ambulance service.

"We can all give it our best shot to help someone having a cardiac arrest."