Teen cricketer Kade Sutton eyes Christmas comeback from heart attack after coach saves life

Talented NSW junior Kade Sutton was clinically dead for five minutes after suffering a heart attack at training in late August, only to be brought back to life by his coach, Jed Dickson. Now, he’s eyeing a return to the sport he loves by Christmas.

It’s the most incredible cricketing comeback of the season.

Talented NSW junior Kade Sutton was clinically dead for five minutes after suffering a heart attack at training in late August, only to be brought back to life by his coach, Jed Dickson.

Last week, barely a month after waking from an induced coma, the teenage allrounder from Newcastle was back bowling in the nets at NSW headquarters alongside Australian Test star Nathan Lyon, with no hint of residue from the most dramatic behind-the-scenes story imaginable.

Sutton is now eyeing an emotional Lazarus-like return to play in November after passing a rigorous stress test last Thursday, which also happened to be his 18th birthday.

Doctors have told Sutton, he had a one in ten chance of survival after suddenly collapsing into a bush at his school, Hunter Sports High, and the only reason he is here to tell the tale is because of the quick-thinking of his coach, who remarkably only completed a CPR refresher course two weeks prior.

Kade Sutton, 18, (right) with the coach who saved his life, Jed Dickson, 35. Dickson performed CPR to revive him. Picture: Supplied

“I was going for a little warm-up with the lads and happened to veer off the path into a bush where I had a seizure-like fit. But really it was a cardiac arrest and I had no pulse, no heart rate or anything. I was clinically dead for about five minutes,” Sutton said.

“Luckily my coach Jed Dickson had just done his first aid course so he was all up to date. He knew what to do.

“He couldn’t really do the breaths because I was foaming at the mouth and I was just purple.

“He felt for the pulse and knew I was in trouble, so he just went straight for CPR. He brought me back to life. I went into the ambulance and they put me into a coma.

“It’s a bit emotional now every time I see him. You can’t really repay someone for saving your life so I guess I’ve just got to keep thanking him.”

Dickson, himself only 35 years of age, is Sutton’s coach in the Cricket NSW Youth Academy program, but also plays at the same Charlestown Cricket Club as Sutton, who he has known for years.

Young Newcastle cricketer Kade Sutton with parents Shaun & Kelly Sutton while attending a Sheffield Shield match. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Working in the disability sector, it was a requirement for Dickson to update his CPR and first aid training – and the fact he quite literally saved a young man’s life is a reality still yet to sink in.

“You just do the best with the tools you’ve got at the time,” Dickson said.

“I was very fortunate at that point that others had put their time and effort into building my tool kit with CPR and first aid.

“(Saving a life) is something that over time as you process it, it becomes part of your life and it’s really nice that Kade and his family have kept me updated and I’ve been part of their journey as well. They’ve been incredibly generous with their time, not just with me, but everyone in the community.

“It puts a smile on my face every time I see Kado. To see that infectious energy back and to be part of his journey. He’s a fighter.”

Sutton had a pre-diagnosed genetic heart condition, and had regularly seen cardiologists since he was a little kid, but doctors felt everything was under control until the frightening incident on August 25.

His parents, Kelly and Shaun, say they’re indebted not only to Dickson, but to paramedics, police, the staff at John Hunter Hospital as well as Cricket NSW, Charlestown Cricket Club and Hunter Sports High for the life-saving support and care provided to their son.

Kade Sutton (left) with Test cricketers Nathan Lyon (centre), Mitchell Starc (right). Picture: Supplied

Cricket NSW organised for Sutton to spend two days in the dugout with the NSW team for the first Sheffield Shield game of the season against South Australia last week, and Kelly and Shaun will not stand in the way of their son following his dream of one day representing his state and country.

“We can’t wrap him up in cotton wool. He loves cricket. So if he’s able to do it, who are we to stop him? That’s his path. He gets to make his own choices. We can’t stand in his way,” said mum, Kelly.

Father Shaun said: “It could have been so much different that day. Everything lined up. He was in the right place and so were the other people. Now he’s got a second go. He might as well try and do whatever he can now.

“He got out of the hospital on the Friday and he was at his local cricket training on the Tuesday. He went back to training before he went back to school.

“We want to acknowledge Cricket NSW, they’ve been outstanding.”

Doctors have given Sutton an exemption from sitting his HSC exams due to the risk of stress, but he has already gained early entry into Newcastle University to study Criminology and Psychological Science.

Young Newcastle cricketer Kade Sutton is planning to be back on the pitch by Christmas after he died of a heart attack and was brought back to life by his coach. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Sutton wants to head to Sydney to play grade cricket in the coming seasons, armed with the confidence provided by a defibrillator he can bring to games in case of another emergency.

Cricket is so often about making the most of receiving a life – usually that’s in the form of a dropped catch giving a batsman a second chance at the crease.

For Sutton, it’s so much more profound.

“I think you’ve just got to celebrate everything. I was a one in ten chance. I was gone. And then I’m back to life now,” Sutton, a talented leg-spinner and middle-order batsman, said.

“I’m still getting used to that fact; that I was dead and now I’m back.

“I think celebrating everything is important for me. This is a bonus really now. Hopefully I can make a bit of a difference. I’m definitely ready for it. I’m hungry.”

Originally published as Teen cricketer Kade Sutton eyes Christmas comeback from heart attack after coach saves life