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Bridesmaid apologises for 'ruining sister's big day' after going into cardiac arrest

A bridesmaid has nearly died after going into cardiac arrest while walking down the aisle at her sister’s wedding.

Carly Williams, 34, was all smiles as she walked alongside her niece at her sister’s Central London wedding in July.

The maid of honour doesn’t remember what happened next, waking up in hospital two days later “with a massive gap” in her memory.

The bride, Jodie, initially thought her sister was just stealing the limelight.

Carly Williams was the maid of honour at her sister's wedding in Central London. Source: Facebook
Carly Williams was the maid of honour at her sister's wedding in Central London. Source: Facebook
Jodie was forced to cancel the wedding to Alfie after her sister suffered a cardiac arrest. Source: Facebook
Jodie was forced to cancel the wedding to Alfie after her sister suffered a cardiac arrest. Source: Facebook

“I got to the top of the aisle and I heard some commotion behind me and I saw my sister laying on one of the other bridesmaid’s laps,” she told The Mirror.

“I honestly thought, ‘What is she doing?’

“I just thought she was being a drama queen to be honest, I thought it was a bit over the top."

She said the severity of the situation quickly became apparent when her mum started screaming “get a defibrillator”.

Their cousins, who had just completed a first aid course two weeks earlier, rushed to her aid using the hotel’s defibrillator.

Carly (left) was walking ahead of bride-to-be Jodie (right) when she collapsed. Source: Facebook
Carly (left) was walking ahead of bride-to-be Jodie (right) when she collapsed. Source: Facebook

The mother-of-two was taken to hospital, while the 115 guests at the wedding ceremony were sent home.

Carly was placed in an induced coma, where doctors ran a series of tests on her heart.

“I’m lucky to be alive, but I feel so guilty about ruining my sister’s big day,” Carly said.

She has since been fitted with a S-ICD device that she calls "insurance" for her heart, however doctors were unable to determine exactly what caused the cardiac arrest.

Jodie said she will only book in another date once her sister is fit enough.

The pair are also trying to raise money for the British Heart Foundation to get a defibrillator into every local school.

Carly, pictured with her son, was fitted with a S-ICD device to as a safety precaution. Source: Facebook
Carly, pictured with her son, was fitted with a S-ICD device to as a safety precaution. Source: Facebook