Scots student reveals terrifying moment her dad collapsed while on the phone to her
A Scots student has spoken about the terrifying moment her dad collapsed while she was on the phone to him.
Aimee Halstead, 20, was getting ready to run her first-ever 10k at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on May 25. Her parents were travelling from Bathgate, West Lothian, to cheer her on, with her feeling some nerves beforehand.
She called them while walking to the start line, but after being told they were on their way, her dad suddenly collapsed during the call. When she realised her mum was being serious, she was left with "no idea what to do".
Aimee told our sister title Edinburgh Live: "I kept trying to text mum and I didn't know whether to run, or leave the race and go find them.
"Mum was saying it was fine, to just to the race. They didn't know what hospital they were going to and she said she'd talk to me after."
Her dad was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and was diagnosed with aortic stenosis, a serious condition which required open heart surgery.
Aimee shared that it had been a "scary and emotional time" for her family.
She continued: "I met them after at the Royal Infirmary, and doctors said he has something called aortic stenosis. Most people have about three heart valves, whereas they found out dad has only had two his whole life. He used to be a runner as well, I think just over time it's sort of worn down and unfortunately it's hit him now.
'He had to get a bunch of procedures, and they eventually told him the only way to deal with it was to have open heart surgery. It was quite scary because doctors said if he hadn't collapsed that day, and it had gone unnoticed for another month or so, it could have been a very different story.
'In a way it's lucky he collapsed, and that it happened when it did. Seeing your dad like that is so scary though, and having to hear about the surgery was awful."
Aimee revealed that she found the race "not enjoyable" as she spent a large part of it conflicted over what to do. She said: "I was disappointed that my parents wouldn't be there at the finish line, but it was a nice achievement crossing the finish line because my friend did it with me.
"But as soon as I crossed the finish line I had about five seconds of thinking 'great I've done it', then instantly my mind went to 'where's dad and how is he'.
"It was really difficult because I didn't know that I was conflicted on whether do I even run this or do I try and find out what's happening. In that moment my mum and dad, they were kind of busy dealing with that, so I kept trying to text her and call her, but obviously she was trying to deal with my dad being unconscious and everything.
"All the roads were shut after for the marathon as well, so I was trying to get an Uber. It was my first running event as well so I was already nervous."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
She now plans to fundraise for the British Heart Foundation"in honour of her dad" as she wants to make him proud.
She added: "You can find a lot of information so you don't feel as alone and you know that other patients and their families have gone through this. I wanted to do it for a charity that really means something to me.
"I also want to make my dad proud obviously because he's going through it right now. It was an incredibly scary and emotional time for our family, as the possibility of losing your dad is one of the scariest thoughts I've ever had
"That experience has made me even more passionate about raising money for the British Heart Foundation."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
20 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Gran's terrifying seizure at work led to doctors finding mass on her brain
Doctors initially put Lesley Arnott's unexpected seizure down to epilepsy before a scan revealed something more sinister. A grandmother has told how a terrifying seizure at work led doctors to discover a life-threatening brain mass. Lesley Arnott, 53, was getting ready to leave work in Strichen, Aberdeenshire on March 22 last year when she was suddenly gripped by the unexpected fit. She was found by her colleagues who called an ambulance. The manager at Farmlay Eggs was confused and incoherent, even after her seizure began to subside. Lesley told the Record: "I remember changing my clothes but I don't really remember anything after that. It was just out of the blue. "I came to and saw paramedics in front of me, and they told me the helicopter was coming. I wasn't really with it, I remember saying 'why is that coming?'. I must have lost about half an hour." She was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in just 15 minutes, a journey which would have taken almost an hour by road, and rushed straight into A&E. Lesley recalls not being able to communicate, as she had to think hard about what she was saying. She had experienced no prior symptoms or warning signs before the frightening episode. 'I was struggling to answer questions. I do remember seeing red uniforms walking towards me though. I'd never had a seizure before, but I suddenly had no recollection of time," she said. Doctors put her seizure down to epilepsy after they were unable to find anything unusual during a head scan. A few days later, she suffered a second seizure and was rushed back to hospital. An MRI found a large abscess on her brain which required an urgent operation to drain it. Although rare, a brain abscess is a life-threatening condition that can cause permanent brain damage if left untreated. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Lesley underwent two operations to drain the abscess, and was in hospital for three days before being allowed home to recover. She said: "I slept a lot but pushed myself to keep going, and was back at work five days a week by the first week in July." After regaining her strength, she decided to fundraise for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance after learning the average call-out costs the charity around £4,500. With the help of her husband George, 55, daughters Debbie, 32, and Laura, 31, and their community, Lesley has raised £16,262 hosting coffee mornings and a Bridgerton themed event. Lesley added: "We received such strong support from the local community. My husband is a farmer, and we live in a farming community, so many people in the area understand how important the air ambulance service is. "I'm very thankful for the crew who helped me when I had my seizure, and my family were so relieved to know I was getting the care I needed."
Daily Record
20 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Dear Coleen: I'm struggling with guilt over my mum's dementia battle
I'm a married man in my 40s and my mum, who's in her 70s, has had dementia for a couple of years. In this time, she's gone from being a sweet, kind person to someone who's really aggressive and verbally abusive. Dear Coleen I'm a married man in my 40s and my mum, who's in her 70s, has had dementia for a couple of years. In this time, she's gone from being a sweet, kind person to someone who's really aggressive and verbally abusive. Sadly, my kids get frightened by her when we visit her in her care home, so I've stopped taking them. My wife is very supportive and has gone over and above to help, but I don't want to burden her too much with how I'm feeling, as she has other things on her plate. I don't feel I have anyone else to talk to about it, though, as I'm an only child and my father died years ago. None of my friends have any experience of a relative with dementia either. It feels lonely and incredibly depressing. I feel like a bad person when I don't visit my mum and maybe I am selfish, but sometimes I have to cut myself off from her altogether to cope. I'd be very grateful for any advice you might have. Coleen says Firstly, you need to know you're not alone in this. I've been through the same, feeling incredible guilt over dreading going to see my mum. She had Alzheimer's and had very similar behaviour to your mum so I understand how hard it is to cope with. I used to go to bed at night, praying for God to take her peacefully because it was so awful for her and so tormenting for us. You mustn't ever feel you're a bad son or you've failed her. Please speak to the Alzheimer's Society ( We spoke to them a lot when my mum was ill and they helped me see everything I was feeling was OK and normal. You can join the online community and find support near you, and there's a support line (0333 150 3456). Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. I'm lucky in that I come from a big family, so we had each other to talk to and could share visits. So, for you, I think it would be so helpful to connect with other people who are going through it with a relative, or have been through it. You should still talk to your friends. They may not have personal experience, but they can still listen and be there for you. It's important to look after yourself, find ways to relax and get some respite, and you mustn't feel guilty for that. Even though she can't communicate it, you know your mum wouldn't want you to feel burdened or guilty.
Daily Record
20 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Urgent warning to all dog owners taking their pooch swimming this summer
Forgetting this 'two-day' rule for dog owners could lead to drastic consequences for your pet. With Scots seeing scorching weather up and down the country this week, and the Met Office even forecasting temperatures above 30C, many dog owners will want to treat their pets to a lovely swim in a nearby loch or a trip to the beach to cool down. But experts are warning owners to be aware of one rule to remember before taking your dog for a paddle. Chris Maxted, director of motorhome dog gate supplier Dog-G8, is warning dog owners to be cautious this summer, as taking your pet swimming just after applying their flea or tick treatment can lead to your dog ingesting contaminated water. The experts' recent survey of over 100 dog owners revealed that one-third were unaware that their dogs should avoid swimming or bathing for several days after applying spot-on parasite treatments. The 'two-day rule' for dog owners advises that pups aren't taken for a swim up to 48 hours after their parasite treatment is applied, or it risks washing off and harming the environment. The washed-off treatment can contaminate the water, posing further risk to your dog if they swallow or drink any. Chris explains: "Dog owners should wait at least 48 hours after applying flea and tick spot-on treatments before allowing their dogs to swim. "This waiting period is important because pesticide levels are highest on the dog's coat immediately after application. 'Swimming too soon can cause these chemicals to wash off into rivers, lakes, and ponds, posing a serious threat to aquatic wildlife.' Exposure to pesticides is not only harmful for the environment, but can have drastic consequences for your pooch. The expert continues: "Besides environmental harm, dogs themselves may be at risk if they swim too soon after treatment. "The pesticides can wash off into water, and if dogs ingest too much treated water, they may experience water intoxication or pesticide exposure. Following the recommended waiting times protects both pets and the environment.' And it's not just spot-on treatments that can cause issue for your paddling pooch, but some flea or tick collars can cause equal harm. Chris adds: 'Owners using flea and tick collars need to carefully follow the manufacturer's advice about swimming and bathing, as some collars can leave toxic residues on surfaces or continue to release pesticides. 'For dogs that swim regularly, oral tablets are often a better choice since they don't wash off into the environment.' Other risks of taking your dog swimming include toxic blue-green algae, which grows rapidly in the summer, and hidden currents. The expert recommends avoiding canals and reservoirs when taking your dog swimming, as these areas often pose hidden hazards. Always supervise your pooch while they're in the water, and assess the conditions before allowing them to splash around. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
