Olympic equestrian Vicki Roycroft has made it back home after suffering a burst aorta at the Sydney Royal Easter Show which left her on the brink of death and hospitalised for three weeks.
The three-time Olympian, who lives in Mount White on the New South Wales Central Coast, was preparing to take part in a showjumping competition when she collapsed from a ruptured aorta.
Mark Schembri, who is a doctor and vet, was at the show when the incident happened and helped save her life.
"He did the cardio stuff and kept enough of the blood circulating in my brain that I didn't become a vegetable," Roycroft told ABC Central Coast's Scott Levi.
"Because I was a bit dead there for a while."
She had gone into cardiac arrest and needed CPR.
Roycroft said she understands she was dead for more than 10 minutes.
Dr Schembri was having lunch at the show when he got a phone call asking him to come down to the arena to help.
"Vicki looked dead. It was that shocking moment when you realise this patient needs CPR now, so we got to work straight away," he said.
"She was completely unresponsive and pale."
Dr Schembri first met Roycroft as a veterinary student in his 20s.
He said it was surreal to be able to help save her life all these years later.
"She's a wonderful competitor at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, a renowned Olympian, and just a wonderful person," he said.
"So, to be part of that story is very special to me."
Horse stopped before collapse
Roycroft was riding a horse at the time of the incident, gearing up to compete in a showjumping event.
She said her "sweet horse" must have sensed something was wrong before she fell.
"It slowed and stopped and I just collapsed to the ground," she said.
"So, all credit to the horse because he didn't nick off and throw me to the ground, which probably wouldn't have helped the whole scenario very much!"
The 70-year-old was taken to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition where she spent three weeks recovering from surgery.
She said she is glad to be back home.
"I'm just really relieved to be getting back to normal because even a week ago I was off the planet," she said.
"The staff here have been wonderful, but frankly the food sucks, the bed's uncomfortable, and I need my puppies!"
She has been instructed not to ride a horse for three months while she recovers.
