‘My legs buckled as I collapsed in front of my daughter’, dad speaks out after heart attack aged 39

IN the UK someone dies from a heart or circulatory condition every three minutes.

That’s why in February, the British Heart Foundation marks Heart Month.

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The charity uses the awareness drive to encourage people to fundraise for lifesaving research, learn CPR and know the symptoms.

Today dad-of-two David Lewis writes for the Scottish Sun after the 40-year-old suffered a heart attack completely out of the blue.

The fit and healthy Tennis Scotland Marketing and Communications Manager, and former journalist, was playing squash when he started to feel ill. But he had no idea he was having a ‘cardiac event’.

Now he is urging people to know the symptoms and get checked if they have any worries about their heart.

I WAS fine until I wasn’t fine.

Just a week before my 40th birthday, without warning, I had a heart attack.

The symptoms started during a squash match at my local club. Out of nowhere, I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest, wobbliness in my legs and a feeling of – it’s hard to explain – uneasiness. 

I wish I could say I immediately called for help… instead, I took a short break until I felt like I’d caught my breath and started playing again.

A few minutes later, I had to stop and – assuming I’d just overdone it on court – headed for home.

My legs buckled as I clutched the front door handle and I landed in a heap in front of my horrified eight-year-old daughter.

Scrambling to the sofa, I again blamed my condition on an overly-enthusiastic approach to squash. It wasn’t long, however, before my wife called 999, having noted I was ‘a bit green’.

My chest continued to tighten, but even though I’d been advised to take aspirin (which I didn’t have), I don’t think I ever considered it was a heart attack.

Instead, I quipped that the paramedics would slip me some magic pills and I’d get back down to the court.

The ambulance arrived within minutes, I was hooked up to a heart monitor and informed I was having a “cardiac event”. Before long, I was on my way from Linlithgow to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, but not before the sinking moment of overhearing a specialist on the phone describe my heart trace as ‘horrible’.

Reflections of blue lights and sounds of the siren provided a constant reminder of my predicament, despite the crew’s compassionate attempts to distract me from the fear.

As we approached the hospital, they explained what would happen next.

That’s when the shakes kicked in. I was still rattling uncontrollably as I was wheeled into the heart unit and onto the table.

A quick scan highlighted a blockage in my artery and the doctor confirmed: “David, you’re having a heart attack, but I’m going to fix it for you.”

In response, I could only squeak, ‘thank you’.

The next few minutes were a blur of frenzied activity… and then, as suddenly as the symptoms began two hours earlier, relief. The blockage had been removed and a stent inserted.

It sounds made up, but I could literally feel the pressure floating away.

‘Right, that’s you,’ said the unflappable doc as if I’d just been in for a short back and sides.

Barely 30 minutes after arriving at hospital, I was on the ward sipping a cup of tea and everything seemed fine, thanks to medics whose skill and composure under pressure must never be underestimated.

Until that night, nearly six months ago, luck had always been on my side when it came to health. I’d never had any major issues and considered myself fit and active, taking part in sport a couple of times each week.

I’ve never been overweight, never smoked and rarely overdo it on the booze – the lack of risk factors left me struggling to understand why I had a heart attack. 

I took six weeks off work at Tennis Scotland, who were a huge support, and while life has mostly returned to normal, there have been challenges.

It’s hard not to panic over a chest muscle twinge and trust that it’s ok to have a beer once in a while.

On doctors’ orders, I’ve given up squash and have to swallow six pills a day – but that’s a small price to pay if it means I’ll get to see my kids grow up and hopefully enjoy a long and happy life.

That’s why I’m telling my story to mark Heart Month – to make sure as many people as possible recognise the symptoms, keep aspirin to hand and learn life-saving techniques like CPR.

Heart attacks on TV can be dramatic – lots of chest-clutching and red faces.

For me, I wouldn’t describe it so much as pain, more an immense pressure – like someone sitting on your chest.

Don’t ignore the uneasiness – it’s so hard to explain, but I just knew something was wrong. Like a feeling of dread.

So, if you’re ever in doubt, get checked out.

– For more information on Heart Month log onto bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/support-our-campaigns/heart-month