Offaly camogie player Aisling (27) returns after cardiac arrest

An Offaly camogie player is grasping her second chance at life as she continues her recovery from a cardiac arrest suffered at the end of last year.

Aisling Brennan discussed her major medical ordeal with Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk this week as she recalled the incident that almost proved fatal on December 29.

Thankfully, Aisling has made a hugely impressive recovery and returned to camogie training just a month after the medical emergency.

The St Cillian's GAA player said she was "the fittest I ever felt" before the cardiac arrest which happened at her friend's house as they were preparing to go for a walk in the Devil's Bit in county Tipperary.

"I was in my friend's house and we were preparing to go for a walk in the Devil's Bit when suddenly I just collapsed. There were no symptoms, no trigger. I was feeling perfectly fine before the incident," Aisling said.

Aisling can't recall the cardiac arrest and its immediate aftermath, but she said that if it wasn't for the quick reactions of her friends who "jumped straight into action" to perform CPR she may not have survived.

"Thankfully, my friends didn't panic. They rang the emergency services while continuing with their CPR. They hadn't performed CPR before, but had the presence of mind to recognise that I had stopped breathing and the situation was very serious," Aisling stated.

The paramedics were soon to arrive and Aisling was airlifted by helicopter to Limerick hospital where she arrived within 15 minutes.

"I was immediately placed into an induced coma as the medics were unsure as to what caused the cardiac arrest. This allowed my brain and body time to recover from what had just happened," Aisling added.

She spent two days in the induced coma until, as her sedation was lightened, she "started to come around very quickly". However, she was completely unaware as to what had happened two days previously.

"I can't recall waking up from the induced coma, but my family were at my bedside and told me that I had suffered a cardiac arrest. I thought to myself, I'm 27, how has this happened? The news just wasn't going in," Aisling recalled.

It was only when she was moved to the Cardia Care Unit (CCU) that the enormity of the situation started to resonate with her.

"Here I was in the CCU with patients in their 60s and 70s. I was over 30 years younger. Only then did it start to sink in what had just happened and how it would impact my job and playing sport," Aisling said.

At the time of the cardiac arrest Aisling was training for a marathon in Rome and had returned to pre-season camogie training with Offaly.

"If you had asked me how I was on December 28, I would have told you that it was the fittest I had ever been," she said.

As investigations continued into how Aisling suffered her cardiac arrest she was referred to the Beacon Clinic where she had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placed beside her ribcage.

"It's a battery powered device which tracks and monitors my heartbeat so if I have an abnormal cardiac rhythm it will deliver a small shock to return it to normal," Aisling continued.

Given the "life changing" impact such a medical incident can have, Aisling was concerned about her possible return to her job in mental services, where she is based in Waterford, and, of course, to intercounty action with Offaly.

"The support I have received from my family and friends has played a huge part in helping me to return to my job and playing camogie with Offaly. Sport plays a huge part in my life so I was eager to get back to playing," Aisling said.

A mere month after suffering her cardiac arrest Aisling was back on the training field with Offaly.

"My aim was to gradually integrate myself back in with the girls, but it wasn't long before I picked up a hurley and got involved with the training drills," Aisling stated.

Offaly started their National Camogie League Division 1B campaign against Wexford on February 9 and Aisling was introduced as a substitute for the closing 15 minutes of the game.

"I was just grateful to be back on the pitch playing with the girls. I am continuing to work hard with our S&C coach and taking each training session by session to get back to where I was, but I am feeling good at the moment," Aisling added.

The 27-year-old explained to Sean Moncrieff that there was "no family history" relating to heart issues, and she reiterated the importance of knowing how to perform CPR and "how it saved my life".

"My friend's initial response saved my life. CPR is a life saving skill that we all should have," Aisling said.

Adding that she is still trying to come to terms with her cardiac arrest, Aisling said she is fortunate that "life hasn't changed too much for me" since the December 29 incident.

"I don't hold any fear that it will reoccur. I have a second chance of life and now I have to live it. That is what I am trying to do, just being happy and grateful," Aisling concluded.