Posted on 09/16/2013

Golf legend Bernard Gallacher says he owes his life to a hotel having its own heart defibrillator.

The ex-Ryder Cup captain had (sudden cardiac arrest) as he was about to give an after-dinner speech there.

Bernard, 64, also thanked the "incredible" medics who treated him, including three nurses who were in the room when he collapsed.

He also revealed his family, including Sky Sports host daughter Kirsty and son Jamie, slept on couches at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a week as they kept a bedside vigil.

The grandfather-of-two has been told he cannot drive for six months and should not play golf for four months “as a precaution”.

But he has no lasting effects from his brush with death and is expected to make a full recovery.

“Golf is off the menu for a while but considering I was dead a few weeks ago it’s amazing to know I’ll get back to a normal life soon,” he said.

“Anyway, it’s not too big a hardship. Winter is coming!”

Bernard said he was feeling well right up to his collapse at the Marcliffe Hotel on August 29.

He added: “I had no pain, no warning of what was coming. People said I suddenly collapsed. They said it looked like I’d been floored by a boxer.

“Three nurses gave me immediate help. The Marcliffe Hotel had a defibrillator on site which was incredibly lucky.

"If it hadn’t been there I wouldn’t be here. These people saved my life.”

Bernard was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where medics lowered his body temperature in a process called therapeutic hypothermia to save his brain from injury.

He had just been on holiday in Spain with wife Lesley and daughter Kirsty. They were still abroad when he collapsed and had to race by plane to get to his bedside.

The family waited five days for him to regain consciousness and feared they might have lost him.

But they were overjoyed when he slowly came around over three days.

Bernard said staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary had been “incredible” throughout and joked: “If you’re going to have a heart attack anywhere, have it in Aberdeen.”

He also said he and the family had been overwhelmed by the support they received.

Now back at home in London Bernard added: “Family, friends and even total strangers kept us going with their good wishes. My family in Scotland were a great help.

“People called the hospital and left messages of support. We also got sent loads of cards and flowers. It’s been very touching.”

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SOURCE: Mirror Sport
 

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