‘Ripped' man, 38, with six-pack who was ‘a picture of health' drops dead at work in terrifying sudden tragedy
But his loved ones have been left devastated after his sudden death.
2
The 38-year-old from Wales helped maintain Newport's docks in the area of the city for work.
During his shift on Thursday 17th July, Robbie was working away from his colleagues who had grown concerned they hadn't seen him for some time.
They began searching the docks area beside the River Usk where they then found him dead.
It soon transpired Robbie had suffered from a cardiac arrest - when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body.
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or pre-existing heart conditions.
His family said Robbie was a fit man and would cycle every day to work.
His cousin Callum Thomas said: 'He was young, fit, always at the gym, always on his bike.
"Robbie was ripped, he had a great six-pack. You'd never think anything was wrong.'
He added: 'He loved the outdoors and would always go looking for bits washed up down the docks like driftwood to make things out of.
'He loved family get-togethers and would always be doing David Attenborough impressions.
Sudden cardiac death
"He was a massive fan of David Attenborough. This has come as a massive shock to everyone.'
To help Robbie's close family with funeral arrangements, a fundraiser has been set up, which you can visit here.
Callum and the family are now urging others to be vigilant about their heart health, especially if they have relatives that have suffered heart-related conditions.
'Our grandad had the same thing happen to him, so we're now all going to get checked,' he explained.
2
Why does cardiac arrest occur?
A cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body.
It is caused by a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), which happens when the electrical system in the heart isn't working properly, the British Heart Foundation says.
"Not all abnormal heart rhythms are life-threatening, but some mean that the heart cannot pump blood around the body," the charity explains.
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is an example of a dangerous heart rhythm that can lead to a cardiac arrest.
This is when the heart quivers or 'fibrillates' instead of pumps.
Some conditions can cause abnormal heart rhythms and in turn, a cardiac arrest if they're severe or left untreated:
cardiomyopathies (disease of the heart muscle) and inherited heart conditions which affect the electrical system of the heart, such as Brugada syndrome
congenital heart disease – a heart condition or defect you get before you're born
heart valve disease – when one or more of your heart valves don't work properly
severe or untreated myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle.
Other causes of cardiac arrest include a heart attack, a severe haemorrhage (losing a large amount of blood), a drop in oxygen levels or a drug overdose.
Source: British Heart Foundation
Many people who experience cardiac arrest have no prior history of heart problems, but several factors can increase your risk.
These include pre-existing heart conditions like heart disease, heart attack, or heart failure, as well as conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle also contribute to increased risk.
Additionally, certain medications, electrolyte imbalances (low potassium or magnesium), and even severe emotional stress can trigger cardiac arrest.
What are the signs of cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrests can happen without warning.
A person having one will usually collapse suddenly, will be unconscious, unresponsive, and not breathing or not breathing normally.
Without immediate treatment, the person will die, so if you see someone having a cardiac arrest, you should phone 999 immediately and start CPR.
It's important to note a cardiac arrest is different to a heart attack.
A heart attack is when the blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off, often due to a clot in one of the coronary arteries.
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