Newsletter Issue 7 Summer 2012 News and information for previously fit and healthy young people living with cardiac conditions
P2 Your news P3 Up the Pace
Adam Payne - Men’s National Lifesaving Champion 2011 Five years ago Adam Payne, a member of the City of Rochester Swimming and Lifeguard Club, had to give up lifesaving after being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal hereditary heart condition, when his uncle died suddenly at the age of 30. He was fitted with an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) in January of 2009. Adam found out about CRY by reading a poster on the wall of his hospital which gave information. This was at a time when the only thing in his life was complete confusion. Adam’s mum contacted CRY for advice and then CRY became a contact point for Adam’s questions and further support. He wanted to share his experiences in the hope that it may help someone else like him.
P4 About myheart
the results were announced. Adam had won the Rope Throw and the Dry Side Incident and was third in the Aquatic Incident. Then it was the overall result. Adam’s dream had come true; he had reached the pinnacle of Men’s Lifesaving by winning and becoming the Men’s National Lifesaving Champion 2011. He had proved to himself that life does go on and that you can find a way forward even when something has a major effect on your life.
Adam was out of the water for about eight months before he began to join in training again at the pace of a rookie. However, under the close supervision of The London Heart Hospital, the club’s coach, Paul Paulding, and members of the Kent Branch, Adam began to compete and started winning again at club and county level - hoping to eventually reach his goal at National Level. But, he still doubted himself and needed at times to be told not to give up. Qualifying through each round of the National Lifesaving Championships in 2011, although emotional, gave him the encouragement to continue as he recognised this might be his last chance to compete at this level. Each check up at the hospital risked him being told he could never compete again. Eventually, the weekend of the National Lifesaving Championships arrived and the competition began. Clear focus took over. Once the competition was finished Summer 2012
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