Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett - I Was Dead for 40 Minutes with Patrick Charnley

Download I Was Dead for 40 Minutes with Patrick Charnley

After a cardiac arrest brought on by a hereditary heart condition and the stress of work, Patrick Charnley was clinically dead. He came back to life a changed man.

Patrick suffered a brain injury that affects his sight and stamina. He is no longer able to work or live as he did before and he cannot remember nearly a year of his life before the heart attack. Despite these impairments, he prefers the life he now lives. He has left a stressful life as a lawyer and has now written a novel, This, My Second Life, inspired by his new perspective.

In Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett, the award-winning interviewer speaks to people you will know and people you should know about the experiences that are shaping their lives. If you want to join the conversation you can email the team at readytotalk@bbc.co.uk, or you can send a WhatsApp message or voice note to 08000 556 101.

Published on Friday, 2nd January 2026.

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