Around 400 golfers in the UK suffer a cardiac arrest each year

Golf courses can be remote, spread across acres of open ground and far from immediate help – which is exactly why air ambulance charities are becoming such a critical safety net for the sport.

As part of Air Ambulance Week this September, England Golf is supporting Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) in raising awareness of cardiac arrest response, the importance of CPR and defibrillators, and the vital role air ambulance charities play in saving lives on golf courses across England.

The campaign will encourage golf clubs to review their emergency preparedness, ensure access to defibrillators, and promote awareness of the lifesaving care delivered by local air ambulance charities.

Nowhere is that role illustrated more starkly than in the story of golfer Paul from Cookham, Berkshire, who suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest while playing golf in Milton Keynes. Thames Valley Air Ambulance was dispatched to the course, more than 30 miles from its base at RAF Benson, reaching Paul in just 16 minutes. Doctor Chloe Spence and Critical Care Paramedic Jo Meadham arrived on scene to deliver advanced cardiac care.

Paul’s heart repeatedly stopped and restarted as he suffered multiple cardiac arrests. During the journey to hospital, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance crew administered 13 defibrillator shocks while fighting to save his life.

Doctor Chloe Spence said: “It was the toughest cardiac incident both Jo and I have ever attended. Paul was critically ill. His heart was in and out of life-threatening rhythms, stopping and starting, requiring advanced intervention to get it to restart all the way to hospital. He was as critical as one can be, but Paul was a fighter and he battled to stay alive.”

Despite the severity of his condition, Paul made a remarkable recovery following emergency treatment in hospital to remove a blood clot blocking his heart. Today, he has returned to work full-time.

Paul said: “I am so grateful to Thames Valley Air Ambulance for reaching me so quickly, acting so calmly in a chaotic situation and to everyone that battled to save my life. It was a terrifying ordeal and I feel incredibly lucky to be alive. I am under no illusion that without the incredible skill and emergency treatment I received, I would not be alive today.”

Around 400 golfers in the UK suffer a cardiac arrest each year. Early CPR and access to a defibrillator can significantly improve survival rates, making emergency preparedness an important consideration for golf clubs. Air ambulance charities collectively attend around 137 lifesaving missions every day across the UK, bringing advanced critical care directly to patients experiencing life-threatening illness or injury — often reaching golfers on remote parts of a course faster than a land ambulance could.

Mark Heaven, Head of Corporate Fundraising at Air Ambulances UK, said: “Paul’s story demonstrates why rapid access to emergency care, CPR and defibrillation can make such a difference when every minute counts. Through Air Ambulance Week, we are pleased that England Golf is helping us share these important messages with golf clubs across the UK. By raising awareness of emergency preparedness and the vital work of local air ambulance charities, we hope more clubs will feel confident in responding to a medical emergency should one occur.”

Golf clubs wishing to learn more about Air Ambulance Week, support their local air ambulance charity, or make a donation, can visit www.airambulancesuk.org.