A heart attack survivor has climbed down the South London hospital where he was nursed back to health, along with his NHS worker daughter, to raise money for the hospital’s charity.
Sutton-based Fred Mendonca and his daughter, occupational therapist Sarah Beard, abseiled the 125-foot facade of St Helier Hospital together, ahead of Father’s Day weekend, to raise money for the ward where Sarah works at the same Trust.
Ready to face the drop – equivalent to the heel-to-crown height of the Statue of Liberty – Fred, 62, says: “It was Sarah’s idea, but I’m very excited, as long as we’re not going off the edge first!”
Fred was busy at work in June 2024 when he felt a pain in his chest that he described as similar to indigestion.
Fred said: “I had no idea I had an arterial clot and was flabbergasted when the consultant said I had suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) – commonly known as a heart attack – and heart failure.
“You think you’re indestructible. It doesn’t feel like your heart is under attack – it’s all the surrounding muscles which end up aching.
“I tried to self-medicate – fortunately, my wife called an ambulance which turned up within ten minutes, they hooked me up to an electrocardiogram and I was being treated in the A&E within half an hour.
“What a phenomenal team, from the paramedics to the emergency and ward staff – they were highly professional, efficient, friendly and informative. You know immediately that you are in good hands.
“I was looked after by the emergency teams at St George’s Hospital, then the cardiac rehabilitation staff at St Helier nursed me back to full health – now I’m focusing on keeping fit, I feel better than I have done in the last 20 years.
“I feel like I’ve been given a new lease of life, and I had the go-ahead for the abseil with Sarah, which means the world to me.
“Our whole family is grateful for the support we’ve received from the hospitals and I’m happy to support this important cause.”
Sarah, 30, has worked in community healthcare roles across Sutton and Surrey for more than eight years, and is currently working as an occupational therapist in the Mary Seacole Unit at Epsom Hospital.
Part of Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust, the unit provides inpatient frailty and rehabilitation services for some of the most vulnerable people in the local community.
Sarah shared: “Most of our family was born in St Helier Hospital and the A&E is where all our family goes when we need urgent help, so they’ve looked after all of us, including my grandad who used to be a chaplain there.
“When my dad was poorly, it really brought home the impact of the work my colleagues do to save lives – I can never be more grateful to them for giving my dad a second chance.
“My dad’s choir often goes to sing for the patients at St Helier at Christmas, which he’s been doing for the past 40 years – so we’re always keen to show our gratitude for their exceptional care.”
The iconic Abseil St Helier event is now in its second year, with over 70 fundraisers already raising over £20,000 as they prepared to go over the edge.
The money raised goes directly to support Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust and its patients, families and NHS staff by helping to enhance patient care, support colleagues through wellbeing initiatives and help create a more welcoming environment.
This includes recent projects like part-funding a state-of-the-art surgical robot, supporting staff recognition and long service events, and improving the environments of maternity spaces like the maternity bereavement room and early pregnancy unit.
Sarah said: “We’ve never abseiled before, so this is a new adventure for us. My dad is a huge source of inspiration for me – he looks after everyone, he’s extremely resilient and I know he’s always there for us.
“He’s so giving with his time – not just to his family, but to the whole community, so I’m very proud of him and I’m very lucky to be his daughter.”
Molly Simpson, Head of Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone taking part in this year’s abseil – it takes real courage to step over the edge at that height, but everyone is doing it to make a real difference for patients, families and NHS colleagues, and to support our hospitals’ life-saving care.
“Events like this help bring our community together – I wish all our abseilers the very best of luck and thank them for going above and beyond for our hospitals.”
You can still support Fred and Sarah, and all those taking part in Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity’s Abseil St Helier event, via: Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity – Abseil St Helier
