Heart attack survivor abseils from hospital roof

Fred Mendonca, a 62-year-old heart attack survivor from Sutton in south London, returned to St Helier Hospital to abseil from its roof as part of fundraising for the hospital’s charity. The 125ft (38m) descent took place on 18 June, two years after the attack, and Mendonca said the effort matched “the equivalent height of the Statue of Liberty.” He initially dismissed symptoms as indigestion while at work in June 2024, but they worsened, prompting his nurse-trained wife to call an ambulance. After assessment at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, doctors concluded he had suffered an acute myocardial infarction and heart failure, and he was transferred to a cardiac rehabilitation unit at St Helier for recovery. Mendonca emphasized that people should not delay seeking help and urged contacting 111 or a GP if unsure. The event marks its second year, with more than 70 fundraisers raising over £20,000 toward a £30,000 goal. St Helier Hospital recently announced £57m in NHS funding to improve and expand its emergency department.