Imogen Tinkler, a mother from London, recalls the terrifying moment her eight-week-old daughter, Beatrix, stopped breathing in her arms. She noticed her daughter’s lips had turned blue and that she was unresponsive, so Tinkler quickly cleared space on the floor and began performing CPR while calling for an ambulance. Her quick actions helped restart Beatrix’s breathing before paramedics arrived. However, the situation worsened, and Beatrix was later airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London, where she remained on life support for eight days. Despite medical efforts, doctors eventually decided to stop life support due to further complications.
The incident took place in March 2020, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when hospitals were under immense pressure and rooms were overcrowded. Tinkler and her husband had to watch their daughter pass away in a hospital ward. She said that knowing she had administered CPR gave her some comfort, making the loss more bearable. Tinkler had previously worked as a lifeguard and had taken a CPR refresher course from nurses at the hospital where Beatrix was born. She strongly believes that everyone should learn CPR, as it can provide a sense of control and comfort during a family emergency.
Tinkler is sharing her story to support an initiative by the Central London Alliance (CLA), which is trying to set a Guinness World Record for the largest CPR relay. The event will take place on 22 and 23 September, aiming to recruit 4,000 participants from across London to receive CPR training. The CLA hopes to raise awareness about the importance of life-saving skills and encourage more people to learn CPR.
Tony Matharu, chairman of the CLA, emphasized the need for more people to learn CPR, drawing on his own experience when a fit and healthy hockey player collapsed during a match. He noted that while a doctor administered CPR, many bystanders were unsure how to help or were too anxious to act. Matharu is encouraging individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups to sign up for the relay, which is open to anyone willing to learn and share this vital skill.
Mother Shares CPR Experience After Losing Daughter in 2020
AI-rewritten from original reportingHow it works
cpr-trainingmotherinfantlondonemergencyhealth



