Coventry City fan’s tragic loss inspires Frank Lampard and life-saving campaign
Lifelong Coventry City fan Rob O’Malley has shared his own tragic story in the hope that he can inspire more fans to step up and learn CPR.
Rob lost his brother Shawn to cardiac arrest when he was just 33 years old. A dedicated youth group leader, Shawn collapsed while hiking with a group of young people in the remote mountains of Snowdonia. Sadly, he was the only person in the group who knew CPR and by the time paramedics reached the scene, despite their best efforts, it was too late to save him.
Shawn was a paramedic at the SkyDome and first responder at Wellesbourne and had trained so many people in CPR and won awards and things,” said salesman Rob, aged 53, who grew up in Shipston on Stour with his brother who died 24 years ago (Feb 12).
Unfortunately he was the only person trained when it happened to him but hopefully this campaign will help save lives in the future. Being part of this campaign with the club, and coming together with Frank and Dion, has meant a great deal to me. The reality is that if more people knew CPR, more families would be spared the loss ours experienced.
“Seeing football clubs and fans come together gives me real hope. If sharing my story encourages people to spend just 15 minutes learning CPR, then something positive can come from what our family went through.”
Head Coach, Frank Lampard said: “Football has an incredible ability to influence people, and with that comes responsibility. Knowing CPR is something everyone should have in their locker, it’s simple to learn and it saves lives. This incredible campaign shows how the game can make a real difference off the pitch.
“Rob’s story is heartbreaking, and the loss of his brother Shawn shows how cruel and sudden cardiac arrest can be. It underlines why learning CPR is so important, giving more people the confidence to step in can make all the difference when every minute matters.”
