Doctor’s heart stops after coronavirus battle as twin brother watches

The agonising moment a UK doctor’s heart flatlined, after a lengthy battle with coronavirus, has been caught on camera.

This is the agonising moment a famous UK celebrity doctor was forced to watch his twin brother’s heart stop in the emergency ward while he was battling coronavirus.

UK TV favourite Dr Chris van Tulleken was working on the frontline when he got a call about his brother, Xand, also a doctor, The Sun reports.

The pair are best known for their kids’ show Operation Ouch, but had returned to help out on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic which has devastated the UK.

Their frontline work was also being filmed as part of a documentary.

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Dr Xand (L) and Dr Chris van Tulleken are Oxford University-trained doctors.

But during filming at the peak of the virus, Dr Xand fell ill with classic coronavirus symptoms – cough, fever and loss of smell.

He isolated at home for two weeks while Dr Chris continued working at University College London, at the epicentre of the virus.

Meanwhile, Dr Xand had started suffering more severe symptoms.

During the documentary, Surviving The Virus: My Brother And Me, which aired on BBC One in the UK on Thursday, Dr Chris can be seen on shift as his brother is rushed into hospital with heart palpitations.

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Dr Xand flatlines. Picture: BBC One

After tests, the doctors discover his heart is beating in an unusual rhythm and his blood pressure is low.

Dr Chris can be seen calling their mother, as he says: “Hi mama. His heart’s in a funny rhythm …I’ll call you when I’m done.“

He then enters the ward where doctors and nurses surround his brother as they prepare to shock his heart with a defibrillator.

The lifesaving procedure stops his heart completely and allows it to restart naturally.

While Dr Chris has watched and carried out the procedure dozens of times, it’s an agonising moment watching it done to his own twin.

The 41-year-old’s heart flatlines and for a few moments everything is tense as the medics wait for his heart to restart.

Incredibly, it begins beating again at a standard rate as tears start streaming down a relieved Dr Chris’s face.

“I wasn’t expecting the flatline for so long afterwards. It wasn’t nice watching it being done,” he said.

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An agonising moment for Dr Chris. Picture: BBC One

Dr Xand flatlined for a few seconds. Picture: BBC One

Dr Xand eventually woke up and was discharged later that day.

After a few days recovering at home, he was able to return to filming.

Speaking about his experience, he said: “I got a real sense today of how unpleasant it is being ill. How unpleasant it is having stuff done to you.

“I‘m obviously anxious about it as every time it happens I have to come in and get defibrillated.

“I’m frustrated and I feel uncertain. I feel apprehensive. If I knew it was going to keep happening and when and all the triggers, that would be a bit easier.

“But it might not happen or it might be something that dogs me for years to come, and I don’t like not knowing.”

Dr Xand (L) and Dr Chris van Tulleken have been to Australia on tour. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Since the cameras stopped rolling in early May, Dr Xand has had another episode of heart palpitations and ended up in hospital needing shock treatment again.

He was discharged the same day but unfortunately it hasn’t solved the problem entirely.

Dr Chris told the Daily Mail that subsequent tests revealed his brother has atrial fibrillation, a heart condition which usually affects people over 60.

He’s currently taking medication to stabilise his heartbeat, but at some point in the future he may need surgery.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission