Two weeks ago I had a heart attack while walking on Dartmoor with husband - thanks to Devon Air Ambulance and Exeter hospital I'm alive.
We were out walking when I suddenly felt faint and weak. I managed to get to a rock to sit down, but felt worse and worse, sweat pouring off me, couldn't move. We were a mile from road and nearest building, so husband dialled 999.
I then started having chest pain, but it didn't really occur to me that I was having a heart attack. Luckily we were at the top of a hill and the Air Ambulance was able to land near us. When it arrived I was put in the helicopter and they did a ECG. The result was sent to Exeter hospital and when we arrived the cardiac team was waiting for me and they immediately fitted a stent to my blocked coronary artery. I had another stent fitted later in the week.
If it wasn't for the Air Ambulance I would have died or had heart damage. The service is run by charity!
This has been a terrible shock - I was fit and healthy, very active, slim, age 60. The only thing is that I have very high cholesterol, a hereditary condition. I was aware of the high cholesterol, but I didn't want to take Statins and stuck my head in the sand. I'm now taking Statins and 5 other drugs.
We have given a donation to Devon Air Ambulance and told our local paper about it. I'm so grateful to them for the wonderful service they provide.