Founder of Eternal Legacy, Mark McAuley, has opened up about the heart attack that changed his life and inspired a platform to help others preserve theirs.

When 56-year-old Belfast entrepreneur Mark McAuley collapsed at home from a sudden and severe heart attack, he had no warning signs. Fit, healthy, and with no major medical history, Mark was floored, literally and figuratively, by the event that nearly killed him.

As paramedics fought to save him and the ambulance raced through Belfast with sirens blaring, Mark faced a chilling realisation: if this was the end, what was he leaving behind?

After emergency surgery and five days in a packed coronary ward surrounded by fellow patients, some of whom tragically didn’t make it, Mark had time to reflect. Among the sounds that haunted him was the zip of a body bag being sealed beside him. That moment left a lasting impression. He decided to do something with the time he had been given.

placeholder image — Founder of Eternal Legacy, Mark McAuley

“I realised that when you're healthy, you can have thousands of problems. But when you're ill, you only have one,” says Mark. “I knew I had to use my second chance at life to do something that mattered.”

With a background in technology and business, Mark channelled his recovery into a new mission: to help people create digital legacies that endure. His new platform, Eternal Legacy, allows individuals to preserve their stories, memories and messages before it’s too late.

“Headstones are static. They give you a name, a date, and maybe a single line,” says Mark. “But a life is so much more than that. Eternal Legacy lets people tell their stories, in their own voice, and leave something meaningful behind.”

The platform is designed for both individuals planning ahead and for families seeking to honour a loved one’s memory. It offers a modern way to approach an often-taboo subject: death.

“We live in the digital age. This isn’t just about grief, it’s about storytelling, connection, and legacy. Everyone deserves to be remembered properly,” Mark adds.

Mark’s personal account is deeply moving. On the morning of his heart attack, he initially mistook the pain for a recurring ulcer. But when electric shocks shot down his arm and pressure built in his chest, he knew something was wrong.

“I hit the floor. I couldn’t breathe. I was terrified. I managed to call 999, and within minutes a paramedic was working on me at my home. When he left his own vehicle behind and jumped in the ambulance with me, I knew it was serious.”

In hospital, doctors discovered multiple blockages. What was meant to be one stent turned into three, and what followed was a stark confrontation with the fragility of life.

“The surgeon was direct with me. It was serious. During recovery, I heard the zip of a body bag beside me, it was chilling. It was in that moment that the idea for Eternal Legacy truly took root.”

Today, Mark is determined to change the way society approaches end-of-life planning. Eternal Legacy encourages people to embrace the concept of digital remembrance, whether it’s through written stories, videos, family photos, or personal reflections.

“This is about control. It’s about choosing how you’ll be remembered. And it’s about giving your loved ones something real to hold on to.”

Mark believes that death should no longer be a fearful or forbidden topic. Eternal Legacy aims to make the conversation around legacy a little easier, and far more meaningful.

Eternal Legacy is a new digital platform designed to help individuals and families preserve memories, messages, and important personal information. Whether for future generations or for immediate remembrance, Eternal Legacy offers a modern, secure way to keep stories alive forever.