Former Biggest Loser contestant David Dobbie ‘cheats death’

A former Biggest Loser contestant ‘cheated death’ when he went into heart failure – dying 42 times. Read his extraordinary story.

A former Biggest Loser contestant says he cheated death when he went into heart failure — ‘dying’ 42 times.

Gold Coast local David Dobbie said nobody thought he was going to make it when he was rushed to hospital last year following the terrifying medical incident — 15 years after his time on the weight-loss reality TV show.

Now he’s put his heart to the ultimate test to live out his dream of flying in a fighter jet.

“I’m sure (being revived 42 times) is some sort of record somewhere,” he said.

“I spent just shy of two months at Gold Coast University Hospital and I came out on August 7, 2023.

David Dobbie ‘cheated death’ after being revived 42 times. Picture: Supplied

“On August 7, 2024, after much discussion with my cardiologist, I managed to get into a fighter jet.”

Mr Dobbie said a high-stress work environment and “never finding the time” to see a doctor led to the life-changing medical emergency.

“It all came to a head,” he said.

“People really need to put themselves first. You need to go and get the regular medical check-ups that everyone avoids because we’re always too busy.

“It’ll take me years to get back to some resemblance of normality.”

With ongoing health issues including a blood clot in his heart, Mr Dobbie said he now focused on quality rather than quantity of life, stressing the importance of having a bucket list.

“The fighter jet was the next thing on my bucket list. So I had to keep rehabbing hard and get my fitness up to be in a position where I could sit back and enjoy it,” he said.

Gold Coast Heart Failure Service clinical nurse Sally Wallace said it took many months of work from the multidisciplinary team to get Mr Dobbie well enough to be independent.

“David was very unwell when he came to us,” she said.

David Dobbie ‘cheated death’ after being revived 42 times. Picture: Supplied

“We took him from being able to lie, to sit, to stand without props, then sit to stand, and stand to walk.

“He was just so sick.

“When I first met him his goal was to fly in a fighter jet and it seemed like such a far-fetched idea.

“I couldn’t even imagine the man sitting in front of me at the time well enough for anything as crazy as that. But he kept on with his goal.”

Ms Wallace said Mr Dobbie’s story was “extraordinary” and a prime example of the power and strength of the human mind.

“We’re so proud – someone who was so terribly unwell and really lucky to be alive is back to this beautiful, smiling man living his best life in a fighter jet,” she said.