You’d never think someone in peak physical condition could be quietly fighting a deadly heart condition.
But that’s exactly what happened to Matt Ullmer.
Back in his late twenties, Matt was the image of health — a competitive cyclist, fit, and living an active life in Cheltenham.
He didn’t smoke, rarely drank, and was often cycling over 100km in one go.
But beneath that healthy exterior, something far more dangerous was quietly at work.
The First Signs Brushed Off as “Overtraining”
It started in 2015 with mild dizzy spells. At first, Matt assumed he was just pushing himself too hard.
The episodes happened only during runs, not while cycling, so he chalked them up to exhaustion or dehydration.
He’d feel unsteady, pause, and then carry on.
Eventually, he went to his GP. The response? “You’re a healthy guy, just take it easy.” No tests. No scans. Just reassurance.
When The Dizziness Got Worse, So Did the Fatigue
As time went on, the dizzy spells became more frequent and more intense.
Fatigue started setting in. Matt’s athletic performance dropped — from podium finishes to struggling through training sessions.
Then, in July 2016, it all came crashing down.
Cardiac Arrest on a Bike Ride Changed Everything
While cycling with friends in the Cotswolds, Matt collapsed.
His friends called for an ambulance, and he was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Doctors discovered he had gone into cardiac arrest — his heart had stopped beating.
He was placed in an induced coma and pumped with medication.
When he woke up three days later, a cardiologist delivered the shocking news: his heart had become dangerously inflamed. The cause? A condition called myocarditis.
What Is Myocarditis — And Why It’s So Dangerous
Myocarditis happens when the heart muscle becomes inflamed, usually due to a viral or bacterial infection.
It weakens the heart, making it work harder and less effectively. Left untreated, it can cause lasting scarring and even death.
Despite being life-threatening, it’s often missed — especially in young, healthy-looking people like Matt.
Common symptoms include:
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Chest discomfort or pain
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Shortness of breath
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Unusual fatigue
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Dizziness
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Irregular heartbeat
Living With an Implanted Defibrillator and Fading Strength
Doctors fitted Matt with an implanted defibrillator to monitor and regulate his heart, and gave him medication in hopes of easing the inflammation.
But his health kept declining.
Regular hospital visits showed his heart function dropping — from a healthy 60% to just 16% by last year.
Exercise became impossible. Even short walks left him breathless.
Eventually, he had to quit his job and move in with his parents.
A Second Cardiac Arrest and a Life-Saving Transplant
In May this year, Matt suffered another cardiac arrest at home, just weeks before a hospital appointment to discuss being added to the transplant list.
His father’s quick CPR saved his life, and Matt was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Doctors said he needed a transplant — urgently.
Thankfully, a donor heart was found just two weeks later.
At the end of June, Matt received his transplant and a second chance at life.
“This Could Have Been Prevented”: Matt’s Warning to Others
Now 37 and recovering, Matt believes much of his ordeal could have been avoided if his GP had caught the signs of myocarditis earlier.
He’s urging anyone with persistent chest pain, fatigue, or dizziness — especially after a flu-like illness — to insist on being tested.
“If I or my doctor had thought to check for myocarditis back then, I could’ve had treatment and avoided years of damage,” he says.
“Ironically, my fitness made it harder to spot.”
Myocarditis in the UK: A Quiet, Underestimated Threat
Experts say around 2,000 people in the UK are admitted to hospital each year with myocarditis, and 250 die from it.
Many more may have it and never know — it often resolves on its own or mimics common viral symptoms.
Dr Sanjay Prasad, a cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, says around 1 in 100 people will develop myocarditis at some point.
Most cases are mild, but undiagnosed myocarditis still causes about one sudden death per week in young people in the UK.
The Covid Connection and Missed Diagnoses
The condition has become more common in recent years, partly due to Covid-19 infections and, in rare cases, Covid vaccines.
Studies show that young men are most likely to develop myocarditis after Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, though experts still aren’t sure why.
But the bigger problem is that GPs often don’t recognize the condition.
Many clinics don’t have the testing equipment, and symptoms often mimic colds, flu, or anxiety.
That’s why patients are being told they’re fine, when they’re anything but.
A New Chapter and a Cause Worth Running For
Matt is slowly rebuilding his strength, now able to walk short distances again.
His girlfriend, Mollie Heyworth, plans to run the London Marathon next year to raise money for Myocarditis UK — a charity supporting awareness and research for the condition.
Matt wants his story to be a wake-up call.
“I didn’t even know what myocarditis was until I nearly died from it.
I wish I’d asked more questions and pushed harder when something felt off. If you feel unwell for weeks after a virus — ask about your heart.”
Want to Help?
To support Mollie’s fundraising run for Myocarditis UK, visit:
👉 www.justgiving.com
