Heartbeat Hero: Phil’s mission to give back

From overcoming two heart attacks to completing 200 miles of walking in just one month, 54-year-old catering consultant Phil Stocken is embracing a renewed lease of life, all thanks to the support of our dedicated cardiac rehab team. 

In August of last year, Phil Stocken from Broadstairs was enjoying a normal day playing with his grandchildren. Little did he know what seemed like an ordinary day would soon take a life-altering turn.

Phil said: “I had been kicking a football around with our grandsons Oscar, who is seven and Alfie, five. We had a bit of dinner and then all of a sudden, I started to feel overwhelmingly hot and sweaty. I didn’t realise it then but now I know it can be a sign of a heart attack.”

Phil’s wife, Gina, takes up the story: “I thought he’d gone to make a cup of tea. When I went to find him, he was sitting at the kitchen table covered in sweat. He said he was going to lie down so we both went upstairs, but then he started being violently sick and was complaining of pain in his arm and throat. I called 999 and the paramedics arrived very quickly. The next thing I knew they were doing chest compressions on him on the bathroom floor. They brought him round but then he collapsed again. I thought, this is it, I’m going to lose him. I was just shouting, ‘I love you, I love you’ over and over. It was terrifying.”

Phil was rushed to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and within 90 seconds of arriving was prepped for the operation that would save his life, the insertion of a metal stent to widen the artery carrying blood to his heart.

“I’ve spent my life in the restaurant trade,” explains Phil, who helped open Jetty bistro in Broadstairs in 2020. “It’s a stressful job and smoking is completely normal. I was smoking around 20-a-day before my heart attacks and the consultant was clear with me – give up now or we’ll be seeing you again in six months, and we might not be able to save you next time.”

“I spent four or five days in hospital recovering before heading home, which is when I was referred to the KCHFT Cardiac Rehab Service.”

Phil went along to his first session, run by Senior Exercise Physiologist Kerry Lamb and Cardiac Rehab Assistant Graham Wright, five weeks after his heart attack. He said: “I didn’t know what to expect. At that point my head was cloudy and emotionally I was all over the place. But the first day I arrived the clouds just lifted. I met Kerry and Graham and they explained what would happen and why. It was like a breath of fresh air.”

Phil Stocken (centre) with Kerry Lamb and Graham Wright.

Kerry said: “It’s about building not only people’s confidence physically but emotionally too, getting them to believe they can get back to doing what they enjoy. Each week they attend it gives them time to process what has happened and what needs to be done to improve and get stronger, as well as ask any questions they have and talk to others in the session that have gone through similar experiences.”

Phil agrees: “I feel like a new person. I’ve got so much energy. That’s why I had the idea to set myself a new year challenge and walk for 10K every day in January. I also realised I could get sponsorship for walking, so I could give something back to the people who have helped me along the way.”

Phil set up a fundraising page to raise funds to support the Cardiac Rehab Service through our charity, I care. “When I was working with the team I realised they could do with some more equipment so I thought, I’ll fundraise for them. I walk every day along the coast and it’s absolutely breath-taking, in a good way!

“I’m more clear-minded and motivated than I’ve ever been. I was back at work within two months of the operation and I now work three to four days a week. I’ve even built a gym at home. I also want to remind more people of the importance of knowing the symptoms of a heart attack and about talking about your mental health. Looking after your mind and body is so important, I know that now.”

To help Phil with his fundraiser check out his GoFund Me page.

For more information about our charity, icare, go to www.kentcht.nhs.uk/icare