Less than three weeks ago, my husband won his AG at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. He turned down the Kona slot as he's raced there four times already and work is just too busy right now to contemplate training for a full distance race.

Nine days ago, he had an episode of ventricular tachycardia after finishing a swim workout. This has never happened to him before. EMS services recorded his heart rate at 250bpm and we think he was in this state for almost 30mins. He was lucid and talking the entire time... fortunately his heart converted back into rhythm on its own while he was in the emergency department.

An angiogram while in hospital proved to be completely clear - this was consistent with a routine heart scan he had had earlier this year. However, a cardiac MRI showed extensive inflammation, particularly in the left ventricle. His ejection fraction was also dramatically reduced (mid-high 30s).

Two days ago he was discharged from hospital having had surgery to fit a pacemaker/defibrillator. He cannot exercise at all for the next 3 months and we don't know what the future holds beyond that.

WTF happened? We don't know... the cardiology team are suggesting a potential genetic factor, for which he will get tested. The other reason for such extensive inflammation is viral... but he tested negative for likely viral factors as far as I know.

Curious if anyone has heard of/experienced something similar?