GAA player opens up on suffering life-threatening heart attack seconds after scoring goal

Paul Moore (left) and Derek O’Connor (right).

The terrifying scenes involving Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium before Christmas once again highlighted the reality that nobody is immune from the dangers of heart conditions.

Derek O’Connor knows this better than most. The Clondalkin man was playing for Croí Ró Naofa’s against St. Joseph’s CBS in a GAA Club championship game in Fairview Park when tradgedy struck.

The 33-year old collapsed after suffering from a sudden and life-threatening cardiac arrest.

Speaking to the Dublin GAA website, O’Connor said: “That morning I woke up as normal. I was feeling a bit tired, only because I had a pregnant girlfriend and she was up with pain most of the night,” Derek O’Connor told Dublin GAA.

That morning O’Connor attended a birthday for his young nephew, where his brother told him “You don’t look OK”.

“I just put it down to being tired,” he said.

“As I was opening an energy drink, I said to him I’ll collapse on the field after this”

The comment may have been in jest, but little did he know what that afternoon had in store for him. He arrived at Fairview p for the match and the game started as usual.

“I’ve been told conditions were grand. A nice sunny day. Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of it still to this day.

“I had just scored a nice goal which is rare for me. A couple of seconds later I was doubled up on the ground.”

Luckily a trained a fireman, Paul Moore, was on the opposite side and noticed the incident. He immediately took action.

“He told me he knew I was going into cardiac arrest, so he started doing chest compressions straight away,” O’Connor revealed.

Moore hurried the players to find a defibrillator in the local area, they ran through shops and pharmacies on the search.

“One of the lads had ripped one off a wall in Tesco I believe and handed it off halfway over as he was too tired to run anymore. One of the lads then ran to Paul who did his thing ‘til the ambulance got there.” Said Derek.

Derek O’Connor was rushed to hospital where it was revealed his heart had stopped three times during the terrifying ordeal. He remained in intensive care for five days and had a stent inserted to prevent the same problem reoccurring.

Amazingly, Derek was able to bid farewell to Dublin’s Mater Hospital after a week of monitoring and testing. He returned home to Tallaght having undergone a full recovery.

I’m after making a full recovery, all thanks to the firefighters of Fairview fire station- and especially Paul.

“My teammates from Croí Ró Naofa and the club itself have been a great help throughout the whole ordeal and also a big thanks to the Mater Hospital staff,” O’Connor said.

The 33-year old recently became the father of a third child and has spoken about his hopes to return to football in 2024.

“I was on the sideline for the rest of the year but I’m planning on starting again at the start of this season.” Revealed the Dubliner.

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