COVENTRY nurse Helen Eftekhari and Binley CPR lifesaver Lisa Hoddinott have been crowned ‘heart heroes’ by the British Heart Foundation at a star-studded awards ceremony at London’s Glaziers Hall.
Helen who works for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and has been a nurse for over 30 years, scooped the Healthcare Hero award for her efforts in helping patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS).
The condition causes an abnormal rise in heart rate after people sit or stand up, leading to feelings of dizziness or faintness.
Helen researched the condition while also helping to open one of Britain’s few specialist PoTS clinics.
She is currently running a trial to see whether specific types of exercise will help those with the condition.
Helen, who received her award from TV presenter Will Njobvu, said she felt ‘very humbled’ to be named a healthcare hero.
“We support patients, often young women, who haven’t received the help they need.
“I don’t know who nominated me, but I’m very grateful for the lovely things that they said about the work we do at the clinic.”
Meanwhile, 51-year-old Lisa won a CPR hero award for saving her partner Nicki’s life after she suffered a cardiac arrest while the couple were at home.
Lisa, who is registered as disabled after breaking her back in a car accident, pulled Nicki from the sofa where they were sitting and performed CPR for six minutes until the paramedics arrived.
Football legend David Ginola, who was saved by CPR after he went into cardiac arrest in 2016, handed Lisa the award.
Lisa said: “It means everything to me to win this award. It was very emotional when David Ginola called out my name and invited me onto the stage, Nicki and I both had a tear in our eye.
“I didn’t really need recognition for what I did as I’m just glad that it worked, and that Nicki is here today.
“But it made me feel very proud to be sitting there amongst so many wonderful and inspiring people.”
The Heart Hero awards recognise those who have shown remarkable bravery or have gone above and beyond to help others while coping with the impact of heart and circulatory disease.
