Dead for 22 Minutes, Now Crushing Half Marathon

Picture this: one moment, you’re crushing a treadmill workout with a weighted vest and kettlebells in hand. The next? Your heart stops. For 22 minutes. That’s exactly what happened to Garth Suthurst in 2018—and what followed is nothing short of a miracle.

Garth was no stranger to pushing limits. On the treadmill that fateful day, he felt something wasn’t right. He set the kettlebells down and collapsed. 

It took an ambulance 22 agonizing minutes to reach him. When they did, paramedics shocked him back to life with a defibrillator and rushed him to the hospital. He spent six days in an induced coma, hovering between life and death. When he finally woke up, Garth was alive—but his life as he knew it was gone.

His memory of the last 40 years had been erased. He didn’t know his wife or daughters, couldn’t recall moving to Spain in 2001, and had no recollection of major life events like the birth of his children.

“I didn’t know who the people in front of me were,” Garth says. “It became apparent everything had gone.”

Short-term memory was just as elusive. For months, every day felt like Groundhog Day, with Garth relearning the same things over and over. Slowly, through therapy, doctors, and a lot of effort, he began to piece together fragments of his life.

While rebuilding his memory, Garth turned his attention to something else: his heart. With sheer grit, he laced up his shoes and started running again—but carefully.

His journey began humbly: a one-minute run, followed by a four-minute walk, all while monitoring his heart rate to stay within safe limits. Day by day, minute by minute, Garth pushed himself just a little further.

Living on Spain’s beautiful Costa del Sol, Garth used the region’s stunning landscapes as inspiration. The road to recovery wasn’t linear, but it was his.

Fast forward to today: Garth just crushed his first official half marathon, the Fuengirola Half. A feat no one believed was possible back in 2018, it’s a testament to his determination, discipline, and the power of second chances.

“I can now run comfortably, but I don’t allow my heart rate to go over a certain amount,” he explains. His training is a perfect balance of pushing limits while respecting his body—an inspiring reminder of what’s possible when you listen to yourself.

Now a personal trainer, Garth is helping others transform their lives. He’s proof that even in the face of unimaginable challenges, you can rebuild and rise stronger.

Garth’s story isn’t just about surviving a cardiac arrest. It’s about what comes after. It’s about the relentless spirit of a man who refused to be defined by tragedy and instead chose to rewrite his story.

Whether you’re tackling your first mile or working toward an impossible goal, let Garth’s journey remind you: every step forward matters, no matter how small.

If you have your own inspiring running journey to share, post it on Instagram or TikTok with #CarlethsRunnerStories and tag me @carlethkeys