A woman about to get married took quick action to save her partner’s life just before their wedding day by administering CPR for 20 minutes when he collapsed during a walk on her birthday. Justyce Crossman and her fiancé David Robinson, 21, were returning to their car after visiting a waterfall in Hafren Forest near Llanidloes, Wales, as part of a birthday road trip.
Suddenly, David collapsed and began convulsing just a few minutes away from the carpark. Justyce immediately called emergency services and started performing CPR on him as he became unresponsive. Paramedics arrived 20 minutes later and used a defibrillator to stabilize him before airlifting him to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire, Wales, for further treatment.
At the hospital, David was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). He was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for open-heart surgery to correct the issue and have a permanent defibrillator implanted.
ALCAPA is an unusual heart defect where the left coronary artery originates from the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta. Despite the rarity of the condition, David had been living with it unknowingly for 21 years, highlighting the importance of timely medical intervention.
Justyce’s quick thinking and CPR skills were credited with saving David’s life, creating a lasting bond between the couple. David expressed gratitude for his fiancée’s actions, emphasizing the importance of CPR knowledge in emergencies. The couple, engaged in March 2025, have since collaborated with a defibrillator charity to raise awareness and install more public defibrillators.
Justyce, who hails from Victoria, Australia, had prior nursing training and is now inspired to become a paramedic following the incident. She stresses the significance of CPR training for everyone, underscoring how it played a crucial role in saving David’s life.
David, on his road to recovery, looks forward to resuming his cricket activities and electrician job. Reflecting on the incident, he acknowledges the impact of Justyce’s actions in saving him and strengthening their relationship.
