When Cornelis Van Rensburg’s 75-year-old mother collapsed in Warsash and her heart stopped beating for 25 minutes, fear was not a factor. He instinctively was determined to resuscitate her.
Martha and her husband Cornelis, senior, were only a week into their holiday visiting their son’s home in Warsash when she fell unconscious.
The couple from Eden Vale, near Johannesburg in South Africa, were helping Cornelis, 44, his wife Sherry and their children Dean, 11, and Erika, eight, to tidy the family home in Oakwood Close.
Martha Van Rensburg and her son Cornelis
While Cornelis and Sherry, 32, were upstairs putting furniture together, Martha collapsed, hitting her head as she fell. Suddenly the normal day turned into a fight for Martha’s life.
“I wasn’t feeling unwell. I remember nothing – I don’t know what happened,” said the 75-year-old.
“I can’t remember any pain. I just woke up in hospital.”
Sherry dialled 999 and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) heart massage while Cornelis comforted his father and the children downstairs. He then returned upstairs and began to resuscitate her, until the paramedics came along shortly afterwards and Martha was taken to hospital.
Cornelis said: “It was purely instinct to carry on the CPR. I didn’t even think she’s not going to breathe again or that her heart’s not going to beat again.
“My concern was what was going to happen when she woke up.
“My mother didn’t realise how bad it was. From when she fell to being taken to hospital her heart stopped beating for about 25 minutes.
“I thought she had had a stroke, because she had one a few years ago. The consultant said ‘your mother is unbelievable and in a good state’. They were also telling us that it must be because of the speed everything happened.
“If she didn’t collapse at that time or if it happened anywhere else in the house, and if we didn’t start CPR immediately, and if we didn’t know how to do CPR or didn’t call the emergency services at that time, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
Cornelis praised the paramedics and doctors at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham for treating his mother, who was put into a drug-induced coma for two days and monitored for a week as she made a dramatically quick recovery.
One month later, it is as if nothing had ever happened. Martha has a stent in her heart to help blood flow better. The only change is the whole family is eating less fatty, oily foods and going for walks, which Martha and her husband are enjoying while on holiday until December.
“I must admit, I feel fine,” said Martha.
“I wouldn’t be able to run down the road, but I can walk up and down the stairs. I’m glad it didn’t happen in South Africa because I doubt we would’ve had the quick response from the hospital.
“It’s amazing how a small community can be so nice for a different person. The hospital and the people at Locks Heath Free Church were praying for me.
“I’m very thankful and happy that I was here and the family was here to help me. I’m absolutely amazed. I didn’t know it was so serious.”