’Derby Dawgz’ survivor yearns for Moon

A Derby woman who was struck down by a heart attack during day one of the Gibb River Challenge has woken in hospital with no memory of her life threatening ordeal, says her teammate Kerry Stanley.

Vlasta Hart, 49, was 30km from the start line last week when she suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

Now in a stable condition in Royal Perth Hospital, Hart reportedly begged doctors to let her return to the Kimberley in time for last weekend’s Kimberley Moon concert.

“She woke up with no recollection of what happened,” teammate Kerry Stanley, who initially accompanied Ms Hart to Derby hospital, said.

The two were competing as part of an eight-person team “Derby Dawgz” team, made up of West Kimberley Regional Prison staff members.

Speaking to Broome Advertiser at Home Valley Station, Stanley said the team was thankful the incident occurred only a short distance from medical assistance.

“She took her feet off the peddles and just fell over,” she said.

Stanley said two Derby Dawgz girls were nearby and checked Ms Hart, finding no pulse.

“The two girls (from Derby Dawgz who were nearby) looked at each other and thought, uh hello, something’s happened.

“They checked her; there wasn’t a pulse so they immediately called triple zero and started CPR,” she said.

“They were really lucky because they were just about out of phone reception.”

Ms Hart was initially taken to Derby Hospital but soon after was transferred aboard the RFDS Rio Tinto Life Flight Jet to Royal Perth Hospital.

Despite the setback the team decided they would continue with the ride which at the time had raised more than $2000 for RFDS and the Derby Animal Welfare Group.