Man who suffers cardiac arrest changes lifestyle with slimming initiative

A man who suffered a cardiac arrest in the cinema six years ago and had to be revived at the scene by medics sitting close to him has changed his lifestyle and lost over a stone in weight.

Gary Wright, who lives on the Moreton Hall Estate, in Bury St Edmunds, went on his slimming initiative four years ago in October 2016, just a year after suffering the attack.

The 54-year-old (pictured above before and after losing weight) who initially weighed in at 12st 8lbs, lost a total of 1st 6lbs, since joining a Slimming World club in October 2016, just a year after his attack

From being fit and active to suffering the cardiac arrest Gary has spent the last four years fighting his way back to fitness. He ran marathons and cycled regularly before he had the incident at Cineworld.

Two nurses who happened to be in the audience performed CPR and kept him alive until paramedics arrived.

But he said that joining the Slimming World group run by his consultant Laura Goodwin, at St Edmundsbury CEVA Primary School, in Grove Road, has been one of the main reasons for his improved lifestyle.

He said: “I joined to change my lifestyle and reap the health benefits. I had never tried any weight loss programmes before and was a little sceptical that you could lose weight without exercise and by eating as much as you liked. Now nearly two years at my target weight I feel healthier and have more energy.

“Laura’s Slimming World group is like a big family where no one is judged, you feel at ease to be honest and open up, where everyone is supportive and if you don’t have the answer someone in group will.

“We are all on the same journey each with our individual goals and targets. Where else can you have a laugh with friends, eat as much as you like and lose weight?

“What gives me the greatest pleasure is seeing the progress of our group members and hearing about their health benefits as a result. Slimming World is not a diet, it’s a lifestyle and I am grateful that I walked through those doors.”