I have always led a very active life here on the Island. Whether it’s riding horses, cycling, walking the dogs or playing a competitive game of badminton, I’ve never been one to sit still. That’s why what happened in June 2025 came as such a complete shock.

I was at the NSC finishing a tough game of badminton when I suddenly felt overwhelmingly exhausted. As I walked to the car, I had to stop just to catch my breath. I felt sick and dizzy, but I assumed I had simply overdone it. On the drive home, I developed a sudden, sharp toothache on my left side. It felt very strange, but I never imagined it was my heart.

By the time I got into the house, I was feeling weak and wobbly. I had nausea and stomach pains that felt like period pains, which made no sense at my age. Thankfully, my husband took my blood pressure and noticed I looked grey and very lethargic. He called A&E, and I was taken in, where I was eventually told I had suffered a heart attack.

Because I also had COVID-19 at the same time, I spent a week in isolation at Noble’s before I was well enough to be flown to Liverpool. Once there, an angiogram revealed that two of my arteries were completely blocked, likely due to high cholesterol. I had assumed I would need a simple stent, but instead I was told I needed a double heart bypass.

The surgery was major, and the recovery was a slow and emotional journey. When I returned to the Island, I felt extremely weak and exhausted. However, I’ve always tried to stay positive. With the support of the cardiac rehabilitation team and my family, I began rebuilding my strength bit by bit.

Today, over six months later, I am back on my bike, back on my horse, and back on the badminton court. I want to share my story because, as women, we are often not told the symptoms to look out for. I didn’t have the ‘typical’ chest pain—I had a jaw ache and overwhelming exhaustion. We need to close that gap in awareness so other women on the Island know when to seek help.

I feel very lucky to have had what feels like a ‘quick fix’ and to be able to move forward with my life again.

Kathryn

As someone who was always active and competitive, I never thought a heart attack would happen to me.

It started when I was about 12 or 13. I’d be sitting down or exercising and suddenly my heart would start racing—sometimes up to 200 beats per minute. At the time, it was put down to anxiety. Because I was a healthy kid, no one suspected a heart condition, so I just lived with it until I left school at 16.

I started an apprenticeship as a plumber, and during the 2020 lockdown, things changed. I was walking when I felt an attack coming on. This time, it was followed by a strange sensation—like my heart had dropped off a rollercoaster—and then a sharp pain began radiating down my left arm.

Over the following months, I began blacking out. I’d pass out at work, at home in the corridor, or even in the shower. I knew then it wasn’t just anxiety. Eventually, I was referred to a specialist in the UK, who diagnosed me with a severe form of SVT (supraventricular tachycardia).

At 17, I flew to Liverpool for a cardiac ablation. What was supposed to be a simple 90-minute procedure turned into a nine-hour operation because my heart is shaped slightly differently from most people’s. I was awake the whole time. It was terrifying, and the recovery was even harder. I returned to the Isle of Man in a wheelchair, had to self-isolate due to COVID restrictions, and found myself struggling both physically and mentally.

Shortly after, I was diagnosed with pericarditis—fluid around the heart—which required further treatment. The cardiac depression that followed was a real battle. I felt like a shadow of my former self, unable to do the job I loved or take part in the sports I enjoyed.

With the help of a local personal trainer in Ramsey and the support of the community, I began the long process of rebuilding myself. It took years, but that surgery gave me my life back.

If I could give any advice to others on the Island, it would be to trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right, and don’t be afraid to ask your family about their medical history—I only found out after my surgery that heart conditions ran in my family.

Will

I was 12 or 13 when my heart started racing; it shows that age is no barrier to heart conditions.

Our Island Stories

Every heart on the Isle of Man carries a story.

We bring together the lived experiences of people across our Island facing cardiac conditions.

These are personal accounts from neighbours, friends and colleagues, offered to help others recognise warning signs and feel less alone. Through these voices, we aim to strengthen understanding, inspire reassurance and shine a light on the resilience within our community.

Kathryn

I thought I was just exhausted after a tough game of badminton, but a sudden toothache and a feeling of being 'wobbly' turned out to be the signs of a heart attack.

Will

At just 13, I started experiencing heart rates of 200 beats per minute. What was dismissed as anxiety turned out to be a life-changing heart condition.

Contact

Manx Heart Foundation

7 Ballacriy Park,
Colby
Isle of Man
IM9 4LT

info@manxheartfoundation.com

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