Sports star, 18, suffers two cardiac arrests as ‘incorrect’ docs left shocked
A talented 18-year-old sports star suffered two cardiac arrests and “thought I wouldn’t make it” but now has new outlook on life
Katharina Engelhardt, 18, had two cardiac arrests(Image: Ski Austria)
A talented 18-year-old sports stars has admitted doctors “thought I wouldn’t make it” after she suffered two cardiac arrests.
Katharina Engelhardt, an Austrian cross-country skier, shared the news on social media, alongside a photo of her in a hospital bed: “My life has changed from one day to the next and it shows that you should be grateful for every day.
“I was only told later that I had suffered two cardiac arrests and was in a coma for four days due to myocarditis. They also implanted a defibrillator to prevent another cardiac arrest. Even the very good doctors in Linz thought I wouldn’t make it.
Katharina Engelhardt has been forced to retire(Image: Team Austria)
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“They were wrong, because I made it. After just one week, I was out of intensive care, and everyone was stunned. I don’t remember everything, but I think it’s better this way.
“I am very grateful to everyone who visited me, especially after about 10 days because my sister and brother locked my phone – Game Over :), so I was very bored.
“I am grateful to everyone who wrote me a letter. Thanks also to the countless messages to my family. Above all, I am grateful to Heli and Rose, who resuscitated me.
“And I am very grateful to the doctors, because without them I wouldn’t have made it.”
However, the diagnosis has spelt an end to her budding sporting career: “Unfortunately, competitive sports will no longer play a role for me. The sport has given me so much, I’ve learned so many things, I’ve laughed, but I’ve also cried.”
Engelhardt had been an up and coming star in the cross-country skiing world – where she had finished second in the Austrian national spring championships back in January.
She also finished 10th in the the national 10km championship after representing Austria at the European championship earlier in the year.
