A heart attack can occur at anytime, anywhere, and unfortunately for Martin Drummond, this was to strike while he was staying in an “off-grid caravan deep in the Tay Forest Park” last October (2023).
“I was awoken at 6am with a searing pain in my chest,” Martin recalls. “It felt like a punch to the solar plexus.”
Storm Babet had caused flooding, and major storm damage around Perthshire and Martin was attempting to wait out the rest of the storm before towing his van back to Edinburgh.
Thankfully, despite his immense pain, he was able to call 999. “I explained my symptoms to the call taker she confirmed that she would dispatch an ambulance but due to the adverse weather and road conditions it would probably be several hours before they arrived,” he reflects.
“During the attack, it felt like being winded…but it wasn’t going away. The sensation can be described as a vice tightening in the upper half of your body, with pain down both arms as if they had been punched repeatedly to the point of being lifeless. Cold sweats were coming and going – I knew it was serious.”
As the storm abated and the cloud base lifted from the surrounding landscape, the father of two remembers hearing a “distant rhythmic thud of rotor blades”.
“The noise grew and grew until the SCAA helicopter – Helimed 76 – appeared low over the tree canopy flying straight towards me,” Martin says.
Two SCAA paramedics quickly assessed Martin and administered the appropriate pain and cardiac relief drugs. He was placed on a stretcher and loaded carefully into the aircraft. The team were able to constantly monitor his condition by utilising an ECG machine.
Soon thereafter a community first responder was on the scene to backup the crew.
“I immediately felt comfortable with the crew, they all introduced themselves, and talked me through what had happened and what they were going to do…everything was seamless,” Martin reflects.
Once the helicopter departed from the secluded location, Martin, to his relief, was told they would arrive at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee within 20 minutes.
On arriving at Ninewells, Martin was transferred to the resus room in the emergency department before being taken to the Coronary Care Unit.
“The SCAA team were the epitome of calm professionalism,” he explains. “They came into the ward to shake my hand and wish me all the best.
“I was a bit of a minor celebrity among the ward because I came in via helicopter."
After being monitored, treated, and provided with medication, Martin was sent home after eight days in hospital care.
“I was told my heart had suffered severe damage…the doctors said I was very lucky. I’ve been in relatively good health my whole life, so it was all a big shock. But the aftercare with the NHS has been very impressive,” he points out.
After having a good rest over the last few months, Martin is regaining his strength and admits the physio is pleased with his progress thus far.
He is currently arranging a base visit with his two young daughters to reunite with the crew who attended to him four months ago.
He says: “I now know a lot more about SCAA than I did a few months ago. To the crew who undoubtedly saved my life, I know I'm a lucky man, my heartfelt thanks.”
