York mother’s ‘miracle’ after her heart stops at cinema

A mother-of-four at the cinema with her young children when her heart stopped beating was saved after a nurse watching the film rushed to her aid.
Caroline Kimberling who suffered a heart attack while at the Vue Cinema with two of her sons, pictured with husband Daniel, and from back left sons Tim, aged 12, Josh, 14,  Zach, 10, and Ben 7. See Ross Parry copy RPYMOVIE : A mum-of-four who was at the cinema with her young children when her heart STOPPED beating was miraculously saved after a nurse watching the film rushed to her aid.  Caroline Kimberling, 36, was watching the trailers with her two sons Zach, 10, and seven-year-old Ben, before the children's film the House of Magic started, when she went into cardiac arrest.  Brave Zach, who had been chatting to his mum, ran into the lobby of Vue Cinema in York, North Yorks., to raise the alarm when she became unresponsive. The commotion caused during the 10:30am kids' club screening, drew the attention of a nurse and physiotherapist, who, by chance, were in the cinema with their children. The pair, along with a member of staff trained in first aid, rushed to her aid and are credited with saving her life byCaroline Kimberling who suffered a heart attack while at the Vue Cinema with two of her sons, pictured with husband Daniel, and from back left sons Tim, aged 12, Josh, 14,  Zach, 10, and Ben 7. See Ross Parry copy RPYMOVIE : A mum-of-four who was at the cinema with her young children when her heart STOPPED beating was miraculously saved after a nurse watching the film rushed to her aid.  Caroline Kimberling, 36, was watching the trailers with her two sons Zach, 10, and seven-year-old Ben, before the children's film the House of Magic started, when she went into cardiac arrest.  Brave Zach, who had been chatting to his mum, ran into the lobby of Vue Cinema in York, North Yorks., to raise the alarm when she became unresponsive. The commotion caused during the 10:30am kids' club screening, drew the attention of a nurse and physiotherapist, who, by chance, were in the cinema with their children. The pair, along with a member of staff trained in first aid, rushed to her aid and are credited with saving her life by
Caroline Kimberling who suffered a heart attack while at the Vue Cinema with two of her sons, pictured with husband Daniel, and from back left sons Tim, aged 12, Josh, 14, Zach, 10, and Ben 7. See Ross Parry copy RPYMOVIE : A mum-of-four who was at the cinema with her young children when her heart STOPPED beating was miraculously saved after a nurse watching the film rushed to her aid. Caroline Kimberling, 36, was watching the trailers with her two sons Zach, 10, and seven-year-old Ben, before the children's film the House of Magic started, when she went into cardiac arrest. Brave Zach, who had been chatting to his mum, ran into the lobby of Vue Cinema in York, North Yorks., to raise the alarm when she became unresponsive. The commotion caused during the 10:30am kids' club screening, drew the attention of a nurse and physiotherapist, who, by chance, were in the cinema with their children. The pair, along with a member of staff trained in first aid, rushed to her aid and are credited with saving her life by

Primary school teacher Caroline Kimberling, 36, was watching the trailers with her sons Zach, 10, and seven-year-old Ben, before the children’s film the House of Magic started, when she went into cardiac arrest.

Zach, who had been chatting to his mother, ran into the lobby of Vue Cinema in York to raise the alarm when she became unresponsive. The commotion caused during the 10.30am screening drew the attention of a nurse and physiotherapist who by chance were in the cinema with their children.

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The pair, along with a member of staff trained in first aid, rushed to her aid and are credited with saving her life by carrying out resuscitation, before paramedics arrived to shock Caroline’s heart back into action on the cinema floor.

Caroline Kimberling from YorkCaroline Kimberling from York
Caroline Kimberling from York

Mrs Kimberling’s husband Dr Daniel Kimberling, a GP, said: “It’s amazing how so many strangers helped her. It was a kids’ club screening so the place was full of children but everyone used their common sense and stayed calm.

“When Zach ran out to get help, the nurse and physiotherapist, who were sitting nearby, just jumped into action.

“They checked her pulse and realised she’d stopped breathing. By this point a member of staff came running in and resuscitated her.

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“I’m convinced that if it hadn’t been for their actions, we would have lost an amazing wife and a loving mum that day.

The Vue Cinema in YorkThe Vue Cinema in York
The Vue Cinema in York

“I can’t thank everyone enough and Zach was amazing. It must have been incredibly traumatic for him and it’s not something a child should have to see but he just got on with it.”

Mrs Kimberling, a primary school teacher, was rushed to hospital where she was put into a medically induced coma for 24 hours. She is now recovering at home following nearly two weeks in hospital.

She said: “It seems a miracle, I have been so fortunate. Not many people go through what I have been through and live, or live and not be brain-damaged.”

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