“A Hero Beyond Death”: Tragic Teen Saves 18 Lives After Ambulance Delay — Grieving Mother’s Fight Sparks Nationwide Outcry

In a heart-wrenching episode of Good Morning Britain, presenter Susanna Reid was reduced to tears as she interviewed Naomi Rees-Issitt — a mother whose unimaginable loss has ignited a life-saving movement across the UK.

Susanna Reid broke down in tears on Tuesday's episode of Good Morning Britain when a a bereaved mother revealed how her late son has saved 18 lives

Naomi’s 18-year-old son, Jamie Rees, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on New Year’s Day in 2022.

But while his life was cruelly cut short, his legacy is proving nothing short of extraordinary — saving 18 lives (and counting) from beyond the grave.

Naomi Rees-Issitt joined the show as she fights to make defibrillators available in police cars after the death of her son Jamie

A Preventable Tragedy

Jamie collapsed while out with friends in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Despite a defibrillator being located just a minute away, it was locked inside a school.

Police arrived on the scene before paramedics, but shockingly — like many police cars in the UK — theirs had no defibrillator onboard.

By the time an ambulance reached him — after a staggering 17-minute wait — it was tragically too late.

Jamie passed away after he suffered a cardiac arrest on New Year's Day in 2022 when he was just 18-years-old

Naomi has since launched a fierce campaign to ensure that no family endures the same devastating experience.

Her mission? To get life-saving defibrillators into every police vehicle in the country.

“He Was Meant to Save Lives”

Speaking through tears, Susanna Reid asked Naomi about Jamie’s extraordinary decision to sign up for organ donation — not once, but three times before his 18th birthday.

Naomi recalled the haunting moment outside Coventry Hospital the morning after losing her son.

“I stood there and watched his lungs being flown by helicopter to Bristol to save another life,” she said.

Naomi explained: 'Jamie actually saved five lives including the life of a baby girl on the night that we lost him... he¿s saved 13 more lives with his defibrillators'

Jamie’s organs saved five people that night — including a baby girl.

But Naomi refused to let his story end there.

Since founding The OurJay Foundation, Naomi has overseen the installation of 129 public-access defibrillators, with another 15 ready for deployment across Warwickshire.

Through these devices, Jamie’s legacy has saved an additional 13 lives.

Susanna said: 'Naomi, it's been such a tragic loss losing your child in such an unspeakable way. You have found a purpose. Jamie had signed up to the organ register, hadn't he?'

“He was never going to be just ‘that lad who died on New Year’s’,” Naomi said.

“He was always meant to be so much more.”

A National Emergency in Plain Sight

Jamie’s tragic death has exposed a shocking flaw in the UK’s emergency response infrastructure: defibrillators — critical in cases of cardiac arrest — are still missing from police vehicles.

Medical experts agree that for every minute without CPR or defibrillation after cardiac arrest, survival chances fall by 10%.

Naomi’s message is chillingly clear: “Had that defibrillator been available within 10, 11, or 12 minutes, the oxygen starvation wouldn’t have been as severe.

There’s every chance Jamie could still be here today.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service later admitted that New Year’s Day 2022 was the busiest in their history, with demand surging 25% higher than any previous year.

A Mother’s Relentless Mission

Naomi’s campaign has become a rallying cry for reform.

The heartbreaking reality is that countless deaths like Jamie’s are preventable — if only life-saving equipment was available when needed most.

Her fight has captured the nation’s attention, proving that even amid unspeakable tragedy, a single voice can drive life-saving change.

As Susanna Reid embraced Naomi live on air, visibly moved, she spoke for millions watching across the country:

“Jamie didn’t just save lives — he’s changing the system.

 And you, Naomi, are nothing short of extraordinary. “