A Celtic fan has thanked two hero doctors who saved his life after he suffered a heart attack at the Scottish Cup Final.
Andrew Mcnulty, from East Kilbride, fell ill after entering Hampden Park ahead of the Hoops' clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle on June 3. The 59-year-old began to feel dizzy on his way to the stand when he collapsed into his friend's son, Jamie Berry, 25, who he was with.
Two-off duty Glasgow Royal Infirmary doctors were nearby and sprang into action. One carried out CPR while the other went to get a defibrillator. Andrew, who was rushed to Hairmyres hospital, told the Record how his heart had stopped before the medics started working on him
He said: "I told Jamie I felt dizzy and leaned on him – that was the last I knew of what was going on.
“He stopped me from having a really bad fall, I could have hit my head. I also swallowed my tongue, so he again saved from that He took my tongue out and cleared my airways.
"The two doctors were on the scene quickly after Jamie shouted for help. My heart had stopped, so thankfully they were over and working on me within a short period of time. I don’t doubt all this, including what my pal did, saved my life."
By chance, the medics had tickets to the same section of Hampden as Andrew, with their seats just three rows in front of their own. He added: "It was just luck.
“If that had happened five minutes before as I was walking along to the game, I don’t think I’d be talking to you today."
After arriving at hospital, Andrew had a stent fitted in his heart to open up a narrowing artery. Doctors are not yet sure if this caused his heart attack.
Andrew was also fitted with a mini defibrillator in his chest that is designed to shock him if it picks up an irregular heartbeat. The taxi driver thankfully suffered minimal damage to his heart and is expected to make a full recovery.
Celtic won the final 3-1, with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota securing the club's eighth treble. Despite the ordeal, Andrew says he is able to take consolation that his team secured the cup win.
He said: "It’s the most memorable cup final I have been to – or should I say haven’t been to!
"It’s a small consolation right enough. My birthday was two days before the final. I turned 59, then dropped down on the Saturday; happy birthday to me!
“My friends and family have been totally devastated that this happened. But they are obviously happy that I have made a good recovery and seem like I’ll be ok.
“I have a son in Canada so getting in touch with him was one of the more upsetting parts of all this, to tell him the bad news while he’s over there. I have a daughter as well who lives nearby.”
Andrew is now warning others to get themselves checked out having previously ignored warning signs such as a racing heart. He added: "Not going to the doctor is what men seem to do, but not anymore for me.
"I wish I’d gone. My heart rate would rise and become erratic, but it would come back down so I just ignored it. It would happen maybe once a month or so.
"Although I don't feel lucky, I really am in a lot of ways. To have no lasting damage, my friend helping me and the doctors being so close by they could get the defibrillator. Any of that changes and I wouldn't be talking to you today."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
British girl, 3, fighting for life after knife attack in French playpark
Donald Trump indicted over alleged mishandling of classified documents
Human remains found in field belong to dad missing for 56 years as police launch murder probe
First picture of Glasgow man who died after being hit by lorry on M74 as family pay tribute
Deaths of four prisoners at Scots jails to be probed by sheriff
