Man who had three heart attacks helping others reclaim their life

Charlie Wright, 61, wants to change the perception of heart attacks and encourage others to restart their lives after struggling with his mental health following his first one in 2006.

He describes no longer being afraid after facing a second in 2017 and a third in June last year and he wants to challenge the idea of heart attacks being associated with death.

He said: "I had my first heart attack back in 2006 when I was only 40. I've had a lot of trials and tribulations since then, both good and bad.

“There were a couple of times when I had to go and see a cardiac psychologist because I got so bad mentally. But now things are different. When I had my third heart attack, I walked into the hospital myself and I knew I was having it and I had no fear.

“Unfortunately, anybody who has a heart attack, after they get home they live their life in fear. You live in fear of when you're going to have another one.

“Most people in the West of Scotland that have had a heart attack have been created by having narrowed arteries or blocked arteries and this is what gets fixed when you end up in the hospital.

“When you leave, you think the problem has been sorted but your brain can't accept that.

“You're wrapped up in cotton wool for the time that you're in a hospital, which generally speaking is anywhere up to three or four days, and then you're put back out in the community without much support.”

Charlie wants to invite West Dunbartonshire residents to join his group for support (Image: Supplied) Having created a Facebook page to unite those who have suffered from cardiac events Charlie says he hears similar stories every day.

He said: "I have been to four or five strangers' homes after they made contact through my Facebook group.

"I went to their houses and it's so sad because they won’t speak about the heart attack and the whole family unit is affected by this.

"One time I went to this couple's house. When the woman who had the heart attack went to the toilet, the man started speaking for the first time and he told me that he had not slept for weeks because he'd been lying awake all night scared and trying to make sure she was still breathing."

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Charlie got involved with Heart Chest and Stroke Scotland and now runs a fortnightly support group in the Clydebank Library for all West Dunbartonshire residents.

Every second Thursday, he and a member of the charity talk to others who have had cardiac events.

Charlie's ultimate goal is to be able to run out of the Golden Jubilee and become a service easily accessible to patients.

Charlie was diagnosed with cancer last year but is committed to helping others despite his illness.

He added: "Consultants don't have the time to speak to you like they used to and that's the problem. So patients get let out the door knowing that their world is turned upside down. These are the people I am trying to reach.

"My passion for everything cardiac is through the roof.

"Sometimes I ask myself how I cope with everything, but I just always manage to pick myself up. I don't worry about anything because it's not in my control and that's how I get through it."