A heart attack survivor who used to work for Ealing Council has visited NHS Blood and Transplant’s (NHSBT) West End donor centre today (31 July 2025) to thank staff for the blood transfusions that helped save his life in 2023.
Matthew Allick, 42, was a careline officer at Ealing Council from 2019 to 2024. Now living in Romford and working part-time for Camden Council, Mr Allick collapsed two years ago after a massive heart attack caused by a pulmonary embolism. He was left clinically dead for several minutes before being revived and placed in a coma. Scans later revealed severe blood clots in his heart and lungs.
During treatment, he received seven blood transfusions. Mr Allick is now calling for more people, especially from Black heritage communities, to donate blood.
Mr Allick said: “Without blood transfusions I wouldn’t be here today. The left side of my body was filled with clots. Having the right blood ready and waiting gave me a second chance at life.
“We often don’t realise how critical blood donation is until we’re on the receiving end. Someone’s decision to give blood saved my life.”
NHSBT says it needs 16,000 more Black heritage donors this year. Only 2% of donors have the Ro blood subtype, vital for treating conditions such as sickle cell disease.
To find out more about giving blood, click here.
 West End donor centre today (31 July 2025) to thank staff for the blood transfusions that helped save his life.){kind=link}