James Taylor: 10 Years After Near-Fatal Heart Attack

James Taylor's heart was beating more than four times faster than normal when doctors hooked him up to the monitor that April day in 2016. The 26-year-old England cricketer had just driven himself home from a match, not realizing his body was shutting down.

"I should have died on that journey," Taylor tells BBC Sport, reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the day that ended his playing career. For nearly six hours, his heart hammered at 265 beats per minute, completely out of rhythm.

He'd been doing simple throw-downs before a pre-season match when something felt terribly wrong. His heartbeat was so violent he could see his shirt moving, and breathing became nearly impossible.

By the time he crawled into bed at home, his body was trying to save his vital organs. His doctor told him to get to a hospital immediately, warning there wasn't time to wait for an ambulance.

Doctors later told Taylor his heart had endured the equivalent of five to six marathons. Most people can only stay conscious for 10 minutes at that heart rate, but Taylor had survived nearly six hours.

The diagnosis was arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a condition similar to what affected footballer Fabrice Muamba. Taylor's retirement was announced six days later, cutting short a promising international career that included seven Tests and 27 one-day matches.

Just weeks earlier, he'd cemented his place in England's Test team with stunning catches against South Africa. Some had even talked about him captaining England one day.

"I burst out crying in front of them all," Taylor says of the press conference announcing his retirement. "It had meant so much to me."

Why This Inspires

Taylor didn't let his heart condition define his future. Within three and a half years, he became a scratch golfer, channeling his competitive drive into a new sport.

He also joined England's selection team in 2018, helping the squad become number one in white-ball cricket and win the 2019 World Cup. After stepping down in 2022, he returned to his roots as an assistant coach at Leicestershire, where his professional career had begun.

Now living with an internal defibrillator and daily medication, Taylor focuses on keeping stress low and making a difference with young players. He's proof that when one door closes, others can open just as wide.

Ten years after the day that should have killed him, Taylor is exactly where he wants to be.