After his dad survived a cardiac arrest three year ago, Ryan Callum decided to raise funds for those who saved his life and has handed over a donation to North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) following an impressive challenge.
Ryan, 26, from Whickham, decided to challenge himself to a half distance Iron Man distance triathlon in August.
Travelling from Kent, where he now lives, Ryan decided to take part in the Geordieman event at
Today, Ryan and his dad Gary met with Hebburn tri-station based clinical team leader, Craig Swaddle, to present a donation of over £500 to the service’s official charity.
Ryan said: “I took part in the Iron Man in honour of everyone who has lost a family member or loved one to a heart condition, but also for all of the staff at NEAS who work tirelessly 24/7 across the North East saving lives every day, and everyone at the BHF for their life-changing research into heart disease.
“The race was tough. I’d never cycled or ran that far before so doing it one after the other, after the swim too was hard going but I got my head down and knew I would finish it.
“In the end I got a time of 7:29:44, matching my goal of 7:30 so I was over the moon with my time especially after how tough it was. I felt even more proud that my whole family and partner were there cheering me on the entire way.”
In 2022, Gary suffered a heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest. Thanks to the rapid response of a NEAS crew, Gary was rushed to the Freeman Hospital and received life-saving care. Later that year, he was even able to reunite with the paramedic who treated him.
In 2024, more than 5,700 calls were attended by NEAS for someone in cardiac arrest. NEAS covers 3,200 square miles across the North East, serving a population of 2.7 million people.
Now 65, Gary is making the most of life - enjoying travel, gardening, and walks with the family dog.
Ryan added: “Seeing my dad meet the person who saved him made me think about how I could show my own gratitude.
“This challenge was also for my mam, who was a rock through it all, my brother who stepped up for our family, and of course my dad - who thinks I’m mad for doing something this intense, despite all the wild things he’s done in his own life.”
Craig Swaddle said: “It was brilliant to meet Ryan today and hear about his incredible fundraising. It meant a lot to be able to thank him in person for his generous donation.
“It’s fantastic that he’s chosen to support our service and recognise the hard work our crews put in every day to care for our communities, while also helping to raise awareness of heart disease and the fact it can affect anyone, even those who seem fit and healthy.”
It’s important to understand the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. While a heart attack is caused by a blockage in the arteries, a cardiac arrest is the result of an abnormal heart rhythm and it can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces a person’s chances of survival by 10%.
You can support Ryan’s ongoing fundraising efforts by donating at: https://
Read Gary’s patient reunion story here: https://