Sara Brautigam has regular brushes with death and in one year was pronounced clinically dead 36 times.

The 21-year-old was diagnosed with Postural orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) four years ago which makes her heart stop beating.

She experiences rapid palpitations that regularly cause her heart to stop beating and her blood pressure to plummet to what doctors record as clinically dead.

Back to life

Sara from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, said each time her heart stops medics have to inflict pain on her to shock her into coming back to life.

She said: "When it happens paramedics try and do anything to inflict pain to try and shock me into coming back to life.

"A lot of the time I'll wake up with big bruises. On one occasion they ripped an acrylic nail off but that still didn't make me flinch."

Sara said that she has contacted people with PoTS, but none of those people's hearts have stopped.

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Sara also suffers joint hypermobility syndrome which means her joints are more prone to injury and dislocation.

The two combined resulted in her visiting A&E a staggering 64 times in one year.

"When I was still canoeing I had an attack in my boat and when I came around I was screaming before I knew it because I had somehow dislocated my shoulder and damaged my back while I was passed out."

But Sara - who has canoed for Great Britain - says she is determined not to let the conditions hold her back and is now trying to make a life as a burlesque performer.

Everything goes black

She said: "There are signs before it happens - I'll feel dizzy or sick and really tired and then I feel as though I'm falling asleep.

"I can hear everything around me and feel as though I’m trying to shout but nothing is coming out.

"They say when you die your hearing is the last thing to go and that’s been my experience.

"After an attack I'll wake up and my chest will be killing and I’m really tired."

"I get asked it quite a lot, but there is definitely no bright light. Everything just goes black.

"You can still hear things and there is a voice in my head that is still active and still conscious and it is trying to communicate with those around me. I can remember what people are saying when I black out but have no other awareness of what's going on."

She was told she could no longer take part in the sport and her dreams of joining the Navy were also left in tatters.

Even getting a job and driving were affected by the condition.

She added: "I had ten years of being out every weekend canoeing and being so active and it all came crashing down.

"I piled on the weight because I couldn't exercise and was really upset. All my dreams came crashing down. I can't even work at the minute because I would need a job that could be very flexible.

"Then I was told I couldn't drive, it was like everything was being taken away from me.

"I lost a lot of friends, in fact I only have one friend from school. Everyone seemed to be too busy with their own lives to bother with me when I was diagnosed."

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Sara was pronounced clinically dead 36 times in 2012 but has since thrown herself into burlesque chair dancing which she said "has given me a new lease of life".

She added: "I made so many friends and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

"I didn't think I’d be able to do anything like his with my illness but everyone looks out for me at the class, I’ve only passed out once since I started.

"I'm determined not to let this beat me, joining the group has given me a life back.

"It might kill me but at least I'd die happy, for me I'd rather live to the full rather than live longer and be wrapped up in cotton wool - it’s all about quality of life."

Photo credits: SWNS