Young Runner’s Tragic Collapse Highlights Why CPR and AED Training Matters

SGFIRSTAID
Apr 29
2 min read

A Heartbreaking Incident That Reminds Us All

On April 28, 2024, a 25-year-old participant collapsed during the 2XU Compression Run in Singapore. Despite immediate efforts by responders using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and urgent transfer to Singapore General Hospital, he sadly passed away.

The young man's tragic death is a stark reminder: cardiac arrest can strike anyone — regardless of age, fitness, or health status. In moments like these, early CPR and AED use can make the difference between life and death.

Cardiac Arrest: It Can Happen to Anyone, Anytime

Many people associate cardiac arrest with older individuals or those with known health conditions. But the truth is, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone — young athletes, office workers, students, even seemingly healthy people.

Unlike a heart attack (which is caused by a blockage), cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction that causes the heart to stop beating unexpectedly. When the heart stops, oxygen stops flowing to the brain and organs, and the person collapses, becomes unresponsive, and stops breathing normally.

Every minute that passes without intervention reduces the person’s chance of survival by 7–10%. After just a few minutes, permanent brain damage can occur. After 10 minutes without help, survival becomes unlikely.

The only effective treatments are immediate CPR and a shock from an AED.

Early Action Saves Lives

The key to surviving a cardiac arrest is early intervention.

Performing CPR helps to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and vital organs, buying precious time. An AED delivers an electric shock to try to restart the heart into a normal rhythm.

Statistics show:

Early CPR can double or triple a person’s chances of survival.
Using an AED within the first few minutes greatly increases survival rates, often above 50%.
In many communities, survival rates for cardiac arrest victims are dramatically higher when bystanders step in immediately.

In short: The faster someone acts, the higher the chance of saving a life.

Sadly, too often, hesitation or lack of knowledge delays that critical first response. That’s why it’s so important that more people learn these life-saving skills.

The loss of a young runner reminds us how fragile life can be — and how vital it is to be ready. Cardiac arrest doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

But when more people are trained in CPR and AED, we build a stronger safety net across our society. Each trained individual becomes a potential lifesaver in their own families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

Imagine if everywhere you went — at a race, in a mall, or on the MRT — there were people around you who knew exactly what to do in a cardiac emergency. Imagine being that person who steps in, takes action, and saves a life.

That’s the vision we can work toward — together.