Basildon tennis ace Helen Crook today told for the first time how she was rushed to hospital and force-fed oxygen after a heart scare before the National Championships.

The 30-year-old was taken ill following a training session just a week before the event was due to begin.

She said: "My heart began to beat uncontrollably and I couldn't run or get my breath back even after a two-stroke rally.

"And I felt worse when it stopped. I was dizzy and feeling sick because apparently my blood was not flowing properly and was thickening."

On the advice of the tournament's doctor, Crook was moved to an ECG machine, then sent straight to Southampton General.

It was then that she was placed on an intravenous drip and force-fed oxygen.

Helen added: "My heart was still jumping between 90 and 130, 12 hours after stepping off court. I was on a drip and had a drug intravenously as well as being on oxygen.

"It was a noisy night because the whole ward was on heart machines. It was like we were all about to conk out but my heart rate eventually went back down to normal after the drugs at about 3am on Tuesday morning."

Crook initially ruled out playing in the Nationals.

But on the advice of the Lawn Tennis Association doctor, she eventually contacted CRY -- a charity formed in 1995 to raise awareness of Cardiac Risk in the Young, Sudden Cardiac Death and Sudden Death Syndrome.

Crook's heart was given a clean bill of health and the cardiologist declared it to be one of the best and healthiest he had ever seen.

A week later at Bolton's Hastings Direct Nationals, Crook advanced to the last eight of the singles event, where she lasted the whole three sets against top seed Julie Pullin from Sussex.

Published Tuesday October 29, 2002

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