A Celtic fan has expressed his gratitude to two heroic doctors who saved his life after he suffered a heart attack during the Scottish Cup Final.
Andrew Mcnulty, a lifelong Hoops supporter and season ticket holder from East Kilbride, collapsed into his friend’s son, Jamie Berry, 25, while entering Hampden Park for the match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on June 3.
Fortunately, two off-duty doctors from Glasgow Royal Infirmary were nearby and sprang into action. One doctor immediately performed CPR while the other quickly retrieved a defibrillator. Andrew, who was then rushed to Hairmyres Hospital, spoke with the Daily Record about his experience, revealing that his heart had stopped before the medics began working on him.
“I told Jamie I felt dizzy and leaned on him – that was the last I knew of what was going on,” Andrew shared. “He stopped me from having a really bad fall; I could have hit my head. I also swallowed my tongue, so he again saved me from that. He took my tongue out and cleared my airways.”
The two doctors, who coincidentally had tickets to the same section of Hampden, were able to respond swiftly after Jamie shouted for help. Their immediate intervention, along with Jamie’s quick thinking, played a crucial role in saving Andrew’s life. He expressed his gratitude, saying:
“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.
“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 being admitted to the hospital, Andrew underwent a procedure to have a stent fitted in his heart to address a narrowing artery. Doctors are still investigating the exact cause of his heart attack. Additionally, he received a mini defibrillator that was implanted in his chest to monitor and shock his heart if it detects an irregular rhythm. Fortunately, Andrew’s heart sustained minimal damage, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
Despite the life-threatening ordeal, Andrew found solace in Celtic’s victory in the final, with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, and Jota securing the club’s eighth treble. Reflecting on the experience, he humorously remarked:
“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!”
