Hull Heart Attack Victim Urges Others To Spot Signs
It's as new research shows 200 people under 65 die every week from heart attacks.
A Hull man who had a heart attack at the age of just 38 and says he feels lucky to be alive - is calling on others to spot the signs before its too late.
Lee Popplewell suffered a cardiac arrest back in 2012 - that's despite losing over four stone in weight and being the fittest he'd ever been at the time.
It's as new research from the British Heart Foundation shows nearly 200 people under the age of 65 die every week from heart attacks - with nearly 10,000 victims across the UK last year.
Lee says it can happen to anyone at any time - but says taking control over your lifestyle is key to preventing one. He told Viking FM:
"There was no indication that I had any sort of problems and I was out running and I started with like a chest pain and I thought it was just indigestion but then it started to get worse and I felt pain down my arms and it was then I knew it was something more serious.
"I was probably the fittest I'd even been at the time, I was doing three 10k runs a week, going boxing training and cycling everywhere.
"But I suppose the signs were definitely there though as I'd not always been as healthy, I had been overweight beforehand and I'd lived in a holiday resort so lived quite a party lifestyle."
Lee says it can happen to anyone at any time and the symptoms might not always be there - but it's important to know the signs:
"It's pretty obvious, if you are overweight and inactive you are putting youself at risk and I just wish I had been more active in mt twenties.
"I have been a first aider all my life and I probably had the classic signs but thinking because it's me, it couldn't be a heart attack. Even the emergency department struggled to diagnose it at first."
Lee is currently raising funds for Heartbeat of Sport Ltd. To sponsor him, head to: