Bournemouth woman recovering well after heart attack

Singer and sales director Andrea Owen’s heart stopped beating for at least 10 minutes on May 24 following a severe reaction to an antibiotic before a routine dental.

Andrea, 37, was rushed to Bournemouth Hospital where she was given lifesaving treatment.

Despite fears she may have suffered irreversible brain damage, Andrea’s partner and new fiancé Steve Richardson says her condition has improved drastically over recent months.

“She’s back with us,” a positive Steve told the Echo. “We can now have a normal conversation with her. While she’s still a bit slow with speech and moving around, all of that is improving every day –she’s doing really quite well.

Andrea Owen with her partner Steve Richardson

“She can think of the sentence she wants to say but her mouth can’t get it out as quick as normal, but she’s improving communication wise each day.”

Steve said his “beautiful” Andrea turned a corner shortly after being moved to Poole Hospital for residential care and said staff there had done a “fantastic job”.

He has been able to take her on short visits to Poole Park for and says the next step is to get Andrea walking.

“The main thing now is getting her out of bed and active as much as we can,” Steve said. “We hope to get her up and walking in the next couple of months, that’s the plan. But we think she’ll still probably be in hospital until the end of the year.”

A fundraiser for Andrea’s care is being organised by the dental practice where she suffered the cardiac arrest. 740 Dental in Christchurch Road, whose staff were described as “incredible” for their quick actions on the day, hope to raise money with a raffle in October.

Bournemouth singer Andrea Owen

Boscombe resident Steve, who visits Andrea in hospital every day after work, also described how she had to come to terms with what had happened to her.

He said: “She can’t remember that day at all. If you have a cardiac arrest your brain doesn’t always store that memory – which is probably a good thing.

“She has been quite emotional with lots of it. When we explained and she then realised the enormity of what happened to her, it’s an emotional thing and a lot to take.

“For Andrea, it’s like the system is restarting and she’s slowly putting the files back in place. I know she’ll get there.”

Having discussed the idea of marriage for some time and after Andrea’s near fatal experience, Steve took the view that “life is too short” and recently got down on one knee to propose to his long time-partner.

Andrea said yes and the pair hope to tie the knot next year.