It took a 43-year-old father collapsing and being declared clinically dead for several minutes before he came to a realization that transformed the way he sees life.
Matthew Allick, a dad of two, was taken to hospital in August 2023 after his feet suddenly began to swell and he developed severe shortness of breath. Not long after arriving, his condition worsened dramatically and he suffered cardiac arrest.
Doctors later determined a pulmonary embolism triggered the collapse. Allick was clinically dead for 10 minutes while medics fought to revive him, using shock paddles and CPR so forceful it caused internal bleeding.
After he was resuscitated, Allick remained in a coma for 10 days. When the London-based model and actor finally woke up, he said the moment felt strangely calm, like he’d simply opened his eyes after “a peaceful sleep”.
Two and a half years on, he says his life looks completely different — though the months after returning were difficult and, at times, felt like everything was unravelling. He has since channelled the experience into a book.
Opening up about why he decided to write it, Allick said:“To put it all down was a bit therapeutic. It was quite easy because it was my story and I lived through it. Sometimes when people hear my story they are shocked and I don’t understand why, but when I saw it all written down I realised I have been through quite a lot.
“I was brought back to life, so there is no challenge that can really deter me. Anything is possible if I can come back from the dead.”
He was fortunate to survive. Scans reportedly revealed blood clots described as the “size of a cricket ball” in his heart and lungs — a finding that marked the beginning of an especially brutal year.
In the year that followed, Allick faced a relationship breaking down, the loss of his job, financial pressure, and a health scare involving his son. In his memoir Life After Being Clinically Dead, he explains how the brush with death helped him keep moving forward.
With what he describes as a new belief that “anything is possible,” he says he has since become engaged to his best friend, purchased a home, and watched his two sons thrive. He added: “Sometimes life throws challenges at you, and it is just about how you deal with it.
“You can take the option of sitting down and crying and having a pity party or you can take the road I did. I cried for one or two days and then I thought about how to build myself back up.
“I actually died. It completely changed my outlook on life. Life is too short to worry. I am here for a reason and I have to keep going. The worst thing is that you die and you don’t try.”
Even after turning things around, Allick says there are lasting consequences. He must stay on blood thinners for the rest of his life, which means he has to be careful with everyday risks — including avoiding cooking and contact sports.