It’s easy to dismiss heartburn and acid reflux as minor annoyances — something doctors sometimes seem to do almost by default.

At least, that’s how it felt for Zack, after several visits to his GP.

Back then, he was prescribed the usual medication for acid reflux, and life seemed to go on.

But in July 2025, everything changed.

Zack Van Aarde, a father-of-two from England, collapsed on the stairs and began vomiting blood. It was a terrifying wake-up call that his symptoms were far more serious than anyone had realized. What started as what seemed like a common digestive issue turned out to be something far more sinister.

Suspected stomach ulcer
After being woken by the commotion, Zack’s wife, Jess, rushed him to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, UK, for further tests. At first, doctors suspected a stomach ulcer, but additional examinations revealed a far more devastating reality.

An endoscopy — a procedure in which a camera is guided down the throat —confirmed that Zack had stage four esophageal cancer.

Zack, an account executive at a cyber security firm, told Daily Mail:

”It’s been a rollercoaster. I always kept myself fit and healthy as a young dad. It came as a massive shock but we’re doing everything we can give myself the best chance.”

His wife Jess recalled the terrifying events of that morning in July:

”I woke-up at 5am and heard heavy breathing and someone collapse. I raced out and saw Zack on the floor and he’d been vomiting blood. We didn’t want to scare the kids, so quickly got him in the room and called an ambulance. He’d lost so much blood he was struggling to stand or sit up.”