Rare heart condition: Sarah Brautigam (pictured), of Doncaster, has been close to death dozens of times . A canoeist with a rare heart condition has been pronounced clinically dead 36 times in a year. Sarah Brautigam, 21, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has been close to death dozens of times due to an affliction which makes her heart stop beating - and said that each time her hearing is the last thing to go. The former Great Britain canoeist saw her life turned upside down four years ago when she was diagnosed with a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Miss Brautigam, who wants to be a burlesque dancer, has rapid palpitations that cause her heart to stop beating and her blood pressure to fall to what doctors record as clinically dead. On occasion she has to wait up to 30 minutes for her heart to refill with blood. She 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 64 times in the same year. But Miss Brautigam insisted that she is determined not to let the conditions hold her back. 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.’ Miss Brautigam said each time her heart stops medics have to inflict pain on her to shock her into coming back to life. She cannot be given CPR until her heart has re-filled with blood. 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.’ In hospital: A combination of her postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and joint hypermobility syndrome have resulted in Miss Brautiga visiting A&E 64 times in the same year . Miss Brautigam was a canoeing fanatic who made it to the GB squad and was training six days a week when she was diagnosed and her dreams 'came crashing down'. 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. Miss Brautigam added: ‘I had 10 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. ‘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. Medical device: Miss Brautigam is pictured with the remote she has to trigger when she has an episode . Helping hand: A previous implantable loop recorder which saved 21-year-old Miss Brautigam from death . ‘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.’ Miss Brautigam was pronounced clinically dead 36 times in 2012 but has since began 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.'
Sarah Brautigam, of Doncaster, has been close to death dozens of times . Former GB canoeist, 21, has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . Miss Brautigam has rapid palpitations that cause heart to stop beating . On occasion she has to wait  30 minutes for her heart to refill with blood .