Nick Williams: Cardiac arrest recovery my biggest challenge, says ex-Cardiff, Ulster & Munster back row

Nick Williams played in a game that raised funds for the Wales Air Ambulance two months before they helped save his life

Former Cardiff number eight Nick Williams says his recovery "journey" from a cardiac arrest has been "by far the biggest challenge" he has had.

The ex-back row forward's life was saved by paramedics and Wales Air Ambulance responders in 2022.

"When I woke up, I asked my brother if we had won or lost the game, having thought I had been concussed playing rugby," said the 40-year-old.

"Being told I had a cardiac arrest was a lot to take in."

Williams also played for Auckland-based Blues, Munster, Aironi and Ulster during a 16-year professional career before retiring aged 36 in 2020 at Cardiff.

Two years later he was fighting for his life. Public Health Wales says, at 5%, cardiac arrest survival rates in Wales are lower than those in England and Scotland.

"A lot of people think rugby players are these big tough blokes, and I've played in front of thousands of people all over the world, but this is by far the biggest challenge I've had," said Williams.

"I am so fortunate to have my wonderful wife Gemma, who has been my cornerstone every step of the way and my three beautiful girls who keep me going."

Williams was visiting a friend's house when he suffered the cardiac arrest.

"My friend Jase didn't know I was coming around and it was purely by chance that he was working from home that day. I went around the back way to his garden, but he had nipped out," said Williams.

"When he got back, he saw me lying on his patio floor. I had gone into cardiac arrest. Thankfully adrenaline kicked in and he started performing CPR before alerting the emergency services."

The Welsh Ambulance Service arrived first with Wales Air Ambulance crew and staff next - critical care practitioners Elliott Rees, Caroline Arter and Rhyan Curtin.

Rees said: "When we arrived, Nick had just received his fourth defibrillator shock. We took a handover from the ambulance crew who had done a fantastic job and made an assessment of Nick's condition.

"Our service delivers advanced critical care interventions which would usually only be available within a hospital setting.

"We were able to deliver hospital-standard treatments in Jason's back garden."

Williams and his family have since met the lifesavers from the air ambulance charity trust crew.

"I didn't realise how much I would benefit from meeting the crew that helped save my life," he said.

Nick Williams said he was grateful to meet some of the air ambulance crew

"Initially, I wanted my girls to meet the people that saved 'daddy's life' and show them what real superheroes look like, as well as thanking them for everything they did for me. I gained so much from it and so did my family," he said.

"I was choked to see the helicopter that came out to me and meet everyone, I will forever be indebted to them."

Williams added: "Every day I count my blessings and thank the heroes from the Wales Air Ambulance for being there for me when I needed them the most. You don't realise how precious life is or how much you take it for granted until you come so close to losing everything.

"There are not enough plaudits in the world to say how grateful I am."

Williams' playing career

Williams, who was born in Auckland of Samoan descent, played rugby league through his youth and switched to union late.

He was taken under the wing of Mark Anscombe - father of Wales fly-half Gareth - and progressed to North Harbour and Blues honours.

He played 37 Super Rugby games for Blues and earned four Junior All Blacks caps before moving to Europe.

Williams played four seasons at Cardiff, making 77 appearances, scored 13 tries and was part of their 2018 European Challenge Cup success.

He spent two years each Irish side Munster and Aironi in Italy, before reuniting with Anscombe at Ulster where he spent four successful seasons and was named Pro14 Player of the Year in 2013 before linking up with Cardiff, where he retired in 2020.