Victorious Ryder Cup captain, Bernard Gallacher, is preparing for a return to the golf course and making plans to lead a campaign for defibrillators to be widely available at golf courses, following treatment at Aberdeen Royal infirmary for sudden heart arrhythmia.
Whilst undertaking an engagement for a corporate client in Aberdeen, Gallacher was taken ill and spent 15 days under the excellent care of medical staff in Aberdeen, seven days of which were in intensive care.
Thanks to the composed and quick thinking of staff and guests at the engagement, as well as quick access to a defibrillator, Gallacher is now on his way to making a full recovery with no long term effects expected.
The availability of a defibrillator, which delivers an electric shock to the heart following sudden cardiac arrest, was central in giving Gallacher a chance of survival and along with his wife Lesley and the support of the PGA and The European Tour, he will be championing a campaign to make defibrillators widely accessible at golf courses around the UK.
He said: “The key to this campaign is to increase awareness of how important a defibrillator can be under the circumstances I found myself in recently. Without the defibrillator on hand in the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, and the quick thinking of medical people who happened to be in the room, I wouldn’t be here today.
“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time, and a lot of golfers are of an age where an attack is possible on the golf course. We want to do whatever it takes to raise the level of awareness of defibrillators and to get them into more clubs around the country.”
The support and well-wishes received throughout Bernard’s time in hospital and since returning home have been incredible, and Gallacher would like to pass his sincere thanks to his sponsors and supporters for their kind words, thoughts and prayers.
Gallacher will not be undertaking any additional corporate engagements in 2013 but with a home Ryder Cup to look forward to in 2014, will be busy supporting the European Team and recounting his Ryder Cup experiences throughout next year.
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