Features and circumstances of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests caught on camera: an analysis of publicly available online videos

Background: Videos of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) publicly shared online provide a rare source to investigate the features and circumstances before and after collapse. They also shape public understanding and attitudes, potentially influencing lay responses and expectations after cardiac arrest. We aimed to collect and analyse videos of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest shared online. Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of publicly available OHCA videos identified through a systematic search of YouTube and Google (November 2024–April 2025). Videos were eligible if they depicted a real-life OHCA. Cardiac arrest features and characteristics were extracted and summarized descriptively. Results: We identified and analysed 127 videos depicting 145 unique OHCAs from all continents between 1984 and 2025. Most recordings (51 %) originated from closed-circuit television cameras. Victims were male in 87 % of cases, and 53 % had an age greater than 40 years. Prodromal signs were visible in 98 % of cases, lasting a median of 3 s (IQR 2–5), and included slowing or pausing activity (49 %), altered head/arm movements (32 %), and reaching for support (28 %). Post-collapse signs were observed in two-thirds of assessable cases, including seizure-like movements (36 %) and agonal breathing (22 %). Bystanders noticed the collapse after a median of 1 (IQR 1–2) second and approached the victim after 2 (IQR 1–4) seconds. Conclusions: Publicly available videos of OHCA offer a rare view into the earliest moments of collapse, highlighting consistent recognition cues, frequent misinterpreted signs, and an action gap between recognition and intervention. These insights may inform education, training, and development of novel strategies aimed at improving recognition and response.