Sponsored by
Grandad Jim 'died 10 times'
A great-grandfather has revealed how he unknowingly "died" more than 10 times as his heart kept stopping and re-starting.
James Grant, 74, from Fulwood, Preston, began suffering from blackouts when he would suddenly pass out and then come round again a few seconds later.
The retired scaffolder said: "I would be sitting chatting to someone, when I would suddenly be out for the count, then a few seconds later, I would come back round and not remember what had happened and carry on with my conversation.
"It happened several times, but I got used to it and did not worry about it as I didn't think it was anything serious.
"My doctor had given me some tablets for a blood condition a few months earlier, so I just put it down to a side-effect."
James, who is married to Anne and has seven children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, admits that when his wife found out about his blackouts, she urged him to see a doctor.
He said: "My wife kept nagging me to see a doctor, but I wouldn't listen to her. I had never been ill in my life and I was too stubborn and big-headed to admit there could be something wrong."
It was only when James' brother Jack, 75, died a couple of months ago and James went to Chorley and South Ribble Hospital to see him and suffered another blackout that his condition came to the attention of doctors.
James said: "I was at Chorley Hospital and I went out for a breath of fresh air and fell down with a bang because I had suffered another blackout.
"When I came to, I was surrounded by nurses and ended up being in hospital for three days.
"They told me they thought there was a problem with my heart and to go to the Royal Preston Hospital to be checked over.
"But I was stubborn again and ignored them. However, shortly afterwards, I was at home, when I blacked out again and cut my head open when I fell."
>> Teen braves rare heart condition to be inspiration
Doctors at Royal Preston Hospital connected James to an ECG heart machine and discovered that his blackouts were caused by his heart suddenly stopping.
This means that every time James had a blackout, he was effectively dying then coming back to life as his heart re-started.
Doctors decided to operate on James straight away and he has now had a pacemaker fitted to regulate his heart.
James said: "I was pretty taken aback. It means I have 'died' more than 10 times in the last couple of years without even knowing about it!
"I have been told off good and proper by my wife and children for being a stubborn man who refused to see a doctor.
"I have been very lucky and I have nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses who saved my life, as they were all superb."
Dr Sarfraz Khan, consultant cardiologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We see many patients with similar conditions, but Mr Grant was unusual in that he hadn't sought medical help for the problem for some time.
"Once he was admitted , a doctor on our medical assessment unit promptly diagnosed the problem and he was quickly treated.
"Within a few hours he had undergone a procedure in our cardiac catheter lab to have a pacemaker fitted and was cured."
>> Vote in our latest web poll
lepone: Every section and special feature can be found on a single page It means I have ‘died’ more than 10 times in the last couple of years without even knowing about it!
“I have been told off good and proper by my wife and children for being a stubborn man who refused to see a doctor.
“I have been very lucky and I have nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses who saved my life, as they were all superb.”
Dr Sarfraz Khan, consultant cardiologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We see many patients with similar conditions, but Mr Grant was unusual in that he hadn’t sought medical help for the problem for some time.
“Once he was admitted , a doctor on our medical assessment unit promptly diagnosed the problem and he was quickly treated.
“Within a few hours he had undergone a procedure in our cardiac catheter lab to have a pacemaker fitted and was cured.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
