Sophie Bettles has spoken of the moment her partner suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep and how she fought to give him a chance of survival while help was on the way.
Jack Dennis, 25, went into cardiac arrest in the early hours of 23 March 2026 at the couple’s home in Underwood, Nottinghamshire.
Sophie called 999 and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). By the time the first ambulance crew arrived, Jack’s heart was beating again.
However, Jack went into cardiac arrest again shortly afterwards. Ambulance crews continued CPR, managed his airway and shocked him nine times with a defibrillator before his heart was beating effectively again.
Further ambulance colleagues attended alongside medics from Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Service and The Air Ambulance Service, who arrived by road in response cars. Together, they continued treating Jack before he was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
EMAS paramedic Dan McChord and technician Rosie Mitford were the first ambulance crew to arrive.
Dan said: “It’s unusual for someone in cardiac arrest to have their heart beating again before we arrive, and that shows just how effective the CPR Sophie gave was.
“She did amazingly and was able to give us the information we needed to help care for Jack.
“Learning how to do CPR is so important. If someone is in cardiac arrest, by attempting to give CPR, you are giving them the best chance of survival when every second counts.
“Without the CPR Sophie gave Jack, he may not have survived, or his life could look very different now.”
Other clinicians cared for Jack in the back of the ambulance while Dan drove them to hospital. Sophie sat alongside him in the front.
Dan said: “Sophie was understandably upset and in shock, but she was very level-headed. We spoke about Jack and the plans they had for the future.
“I wanted to remind her that she did everything she could and because of her actions he now had the best chance.”
Reflecting on the support Dan gave her that morning, Sophie said:
“Dan not only helped save Jack, but he was caring for two patients. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Dan’s words and actions during a moment that seemed like a lifetime.”
Jack has no memory of the cardiac arrest itself. His last memory is of the evening before, and his next is waking from a medically induced coma at Queen’s Medical Centre.
He said: “When I was first coming around, I thought I’d been in a car accident. It was only when the doctors, nurses, Sophie and my family explained everything that I began to understand what had happened.
“I’m eternally grateful for what Sophie did. She did more than many people would have known to do in that situation.”
Following the cardiac arrest, doctors discovered Jack had a previously unknown congenital heart defect. He later underwent major surgery to replace his aortic valve and part of his aorta before being discharged from hospital on 3 May.
Jack has since been working towards getting back to the life he had before his cardiac arrest.
For him, that has meant returning to his job as a plant engineer and gradually rebuilding his fitness. Cars have always been a big part of his life, through both his work with heavy vehicles and his interest in building and modifying cars in his spare time.
Jack said: “My entire goal is not to let this define me. I just wanted to get home, get better and get back to what I usually do.”
The couple were reunited with some of the EMAS colleagues involved in Jack’s care on Monday 9 November 2026.
Jack Dennis and Sophie Bettles
Among them was duty commander Hesta Bailey, who was the cardiac arrest lead at the scene. Her role was to take an overview of the response, allowing the clinicians treating Jack to concentrate on his immediate care while she helped ensure everything needed for his treatment was being considered.
Rosie (Dan's crewmate) said: “We do not often have the opportunity to meet someone again after caring for them in such difficult circumstances.
“To see how well Jack is doing and hear that he has been able to return to his life and the things he enjoys was incredible. Moments like this are one of the most rewarding parts of our job.”
Also at the reunion was emergency medical advisor Lily Prus, who answered Sophie’s 999 call and talked her through CPR.
Lily said: “Cardiac arrest calls stay with you, but I remembered this one particularly clearly because Jack was a similar age to me. It was a powerful reminder that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone.
“There was understandably a great deal of shock and panic at first, but Sophie was great. She quickly made it clear that Jack was not breathing, which meant we could recognise what was happening and arrange the right help.
“I gave Sophie instructions over the phone and she carried out the CPR brilliantly. Finding out that Jack survived and seeing them both again has been amazing.”
Abut the reunion, Jack added:
“Quite early on, I said to Sophie that I’d like to meet the crew and thank them for saving my life. It was also important to thank them for how they looked after Sophie that morning.”
The couple hope that sharing their experience will encourage more people to learn CPR and give them the confidence to act if someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
Sophie said: “If we help one person, that’s what it’s all about.”