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Ex-Scotland boss and BBC favourite reveals he's had triple heart bypass after late night trip to Accident and Emergency

Ex-Scotland boss and BBC favourite reveals he's had triple heart bypass after late night trip to Accident and Emergency

Scottish Suna day ago

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FORMER Scotland boss Craig Levein has revealed he's undergone triple heart bypass surgery.
The popular former Hearts, Dundee Utd, St Johnstone and Scotland boss, 60, has revealed how he was rushed to A&E department of a Fife hospital on a Saturday night.
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Craig Levein during his time at St Johnstone
Credit: Andrew Barr
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Craig Levein returns to his media duties
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
Levein previously suffered a heart attack in the summer of 2018 and had stents fitted - but declined that treatment to go for the triple bypass.
The former Jambos star, who is set to return for a new series of his Sacked in the Morning podcast, told BBC co-host Amy Irons: "I was struggling to walk and breathe at times, if I was going up any hills,
"It had to be done. They offered me more stents, something like five, and I was like, 'not for me'.
"The other option was the triple bypass and it's been a good decision. I'm feeling really good."
Dean Saunders, Viv Anderson, Andy Cole, Alistair Campbell and Si Ferry are among those who will appear on the new series of the podcast.
He has opened up on the ordeal in the days which followed the operation, saying: "I couldn't sleep - I was on about 14 different pills. I had delirium. I had no idea what was going on.
"I woke up, and I'm sitting on my bed, and there's a nativity play going on, and there's kids running about.
"And I swear, I think it's real.
"Then I look across to the other side of the ward, and there's a cubicle, and the curtain's open, and the devil's in there."
Craig Conway's hilarious Craig Levein impression
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My family is haunted by finding my 9-month-old brother dead in his cot after we put him to sleep the wrong way
My family is haunted by finding my 9-month-old brother dead in his cot after we put him to sleep the wrong way

Scottish Sun

time8 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

My family is haunted by finding my 9-month-old brother dead in his cot after we put him to sleep the wrong way

Content note: baby loss. Emma and her mum Carol share how they discovered little Neil lying silently under a blanket - and the devastating impact the loss has had FOREVER CHANGED My family is haunted by finding my 9-month-old brother dead in his cot after we put him to sleep the wrong way Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I WILL never forget the morning we found my nine-month-old brother Neil dead in his cot. Mum had come to wake me first so we could get the baby up and dressed together. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Emma Murray (left) with her mum Carol and baby brother Neil before he died Credit: Emma Murray 6 Emma says her family was haunted by the loss of Neil aged nine months Credit: Emma Murray I was three and a big girl now, with big sister responsibilities and a grown up-looking bedroom with orange flowery wallpaper - the sort interior designers now call retro. I was already awake, and I held mum's hand as we walked to Neil's room. She let me go in first. I peeked over the top of the cot and said: 'Neil's not there, where is he?' Mum rushed over, pulled the blanket back and her face was frozen. It was so scary. Did I scream or was it her? Someone screamed. And then it becomes a blur. The shockwaves of that morning continue to affect our family, from Beckenham, London, over 40 years later. It was February 1973, and cot deaths, as they were then referred to, were something that happened to other people, spoken about in hushed tones, and, let's be honest, often viewed with an element of suspicion. It was also a time when the best-selling book on babies, which had pride of place on my parent's bookshelf, told mums and dads to put tots to sleep on their stomachs and wrap them up warmly. In 2025, thank goodness, there is far more awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - the sudden and unexpected death of a baby where no cause is found - which killed my brother. We now know the safest way is on their backs and a cool environment, with no danger of overheating, but SIDS still affects around 200 families every year in the UK, and the emotional toll of the losses remains as difficult as ever. Beautiful' baby boy dies after mum fell asleep cuddling him into her when he woke up crying in the night After Neil died, my mum Carol and dad Ian became advocates for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, which is now The Lullaby Trust. Dad, a journalist, wrote a heart-wrenching story for the local newspaper, which described that terrible morning. I even stayed up 'late' with nan and grandpa to watch him speak about it on the BBC TV show Nationwide, and there were numerous bake sales at local fetes to raise funds. When my brother Andrew came along in 1974, I think it was this very newspaper that published an article with a photo of our family alongside an article about how it's possible to exist after losing a child. We looked happy - but the problem was, we were falling apart. We'd had no proper support, no room to grieve, and we still had so many questions about how and why Neil was gone. This came to something of a halt when dad's job took us to live in Paris. A line of some sort was drawn, except, of course, it wasn't. We were left with the black silent hole of his absence. There was nothing that could fill the ghastliness of my son not crying Carol Mum threw herself into Paris life. She had learnt French as a teenager and had already lived there in the 60s, working as a bilingual secretary for the Ariane space project. But she had changed. I knew it, and I could feel it more and more as I grew older. Dad's job, now foreign correspondent, took the family to different places - Brussels, Jerusalem, Bonn. Mum played the part of the supportive other half, but she had lost her mojo. She'd had all sorts of ambitions - teacher training college, a master's degree, the job for Arianne - but she never really went back to work. Over time, she stopped being sporty, when she used to play tennis, hockey and swim a lot, and she put on weight. There was drinking, perhaps not that unusual in an expat journalist house in the 70s and 80s, but still, it was different. Don't get me wrong, Andrew and I had a marvellous childhood, full of love, fun holidays, travel, fascinating people, and lively chats. But as we got older, we could feel the tension growing between mum and dad. 6 Carol, her husband Ian, and their children Andrew and Emma Credit: Emma Murray 6 Emma with her three children, Izzy, Alfie and Maddie, on Mother's Day Credit: Emma Murray One day, there was yet another stressful exchange between our parents, with mum flouncing off to bed. This time, Dad, teary-eyed, said: 'She has never been the same since Neil died.' I was stunned. I had never heard him say Neil's name before. I must have been about 18. I'd grown up used to saying: 'Oh yes, I had a brother who died of cot death,' without really connecting the words with my memory of that morning or my understanding of what it must have done to my parents. After that, I did ask a few more questions. My aunt sent me that first article dad had written; my uncle agreed that mum was never the same since Neil's sudden death. Then, in 2000, Dad died, aged just 59, of cancer. He missed meeting his first grandchild, my daughter, Izzy, by four months. What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under the age of 12 months where no cause is found. Around 89 per cent of deaths happen when the tot is under six months old. It is relatively rare, with 182 babies dying from SIDS in the UK in 2021. While doctors don't know exactly what triggers it, there are ways to significantly reduce the chances of SIDS occurring: Put your baby on their back for all sleeps - day and night Share a room with your baby for the first six months Place your baby on their own, clear, flat sleep surface (e.g. cot or Moses basket) Keep your baby smoke-free during pregnancy and after birth Never sleep on a sofa or armchair Do not co-sleep if you or anyone in the bed has been drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking drugs or medication that makes you drowsy These things are especially important for babies who were born prematurely or of a low birth weight, as they are typically at higher risk of SIDS. Source: The Lullaby Trust Again, this was all played out in public, with dad writing his final article days before he left us. He described his feelings, the ones he wouldn't talk to us about, to the readers of The Times newspaper. In that article, he wrote: 'My pregnant daughter has a little lump inside her kicking and fighting for life. 'I have a little lump in me which is kicking and fighting for my life and it will win.' He must have been thinking about Neil, but, again, we did not talk about it. Dad's death catapulted mum into a deep despair. More drink, angry moods, strange behaviour, until eventually, she moved to a home in Deal, Kent, where she left us in February 2025. Did my mum resent me because I survived? In her last years, mum had started talking about Neil, but our relationship was so strained by then, I didn't have the courage to ask her more. Did she resent me because I survived? Was she worried that Andrew might feel he was here because Neil wasn't? Did she blame dad for the media coverage? So many questions. In the end, I asked none. Who could ever get over the death of a child? I can't imagine anything happening to my amazing three children, Alfie, Maddie and Izzy, or to my brilliant niece and nephew, currently living, as fate would have it, in Paris. My family's experience could have turned me into an anxious mother. But by the time Izzy arrived, there was so much good advice on how to keep babies safe when they are sleeping, I was able to build a bedtime and sleep routine quickly, and with confidence. It's thanks to The Lullaby Trust, the charity that mum and dad were such great advocates for in its early days. We were pleased to reconnect with them when mum died to make them the beneficiaries of all donations for her. It was at mum's funeral that I met her friend from the local writer's club. She asked me if I had read mum's story, written as part of their '17 minutes series', where members were given 17 minutes to write something down. 6 Andrew, Carol and Emma on holiday in the 1980s Credit: Emma Murray You have heard my story, now here is my mum's. Carol Anne Murray, mum of three, survived by two, written in 17 minutes, 45 years after losing her son, Neil. We talked together, Ian and I. We spoke about everything under the sun, except for the one great hole that was in our lives. How could it have happened? We had a beautiful daughter, chatty and bubbly. We now had a son. How wonderfully lucky, we thought, one of each. How neat. But then, one morning, I went to his cot to get him up and there was no response. The unbelievable had happened. Why? How? I screamed. Ian came upstairs. He was silent. It was then that I knew he had already gone into the bedroom and found what I had found. He had gone downstairs in disbelief. We called an ambulance, of course. We hoped desperately that something could be done. But what could they do? They just swaddled him and took him away. Forty years later I still feel it, just as if it had happened yesterday Carol We were left with the black silent hole of his absence. Later that day the doctor told us that it was certainly a case of SIDS. It now had a name. But that was all. There was nothing that could fill the ghastliness of his not crying. Neil had cried a lot. I wondered if his crying had been a warning. Had he known all along he would die? But there was no going back, his absence was so obvious. Our daughter's tears said it all. We would never be able to see him again. One day, as we walked home from nursery, we passed by a dead pigeon. 'Hmmmm,' she commented. 'He's just like Neil Bruce John, he won't move again either.' Her philosophical analysis became an acceptance. We went on to have another son a year later. Forty years later I still feel it, just as if it had happened yesterday. I have never forgotten Neil Bruce John. The ABCs of safer sleep EXPERT help is freely available from The Lullaby Trust, which exists to keep babies safe by offering advice, and support grieving families. By investing more than £12million in research, the charity has overseen the reduction of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by 80 per cent, saving 30,000 babies since 1991. It wants all families to know the ABCs of safer sleep: Always sleep your baby on their back, in a clear cot or sleep space. Following these rules, day and night, will help reduce the risk of SIDS. If you are grieving, you can find support on The Lullaby Trust website, by calling the bereavement helpline on 0808 802 6868, or emailing support@

My hair's thin & short but a £12 buy helped it grow so full & thick – I can't believe the difference & it smells amazing
My hair's thin & short but a £12 buy helped it grow so full & thick – I can't believe the difference & it smells amazing

Scottish Sun

time10 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

My hair's thin & short but a £12 buy helped it grow so full & thick – I can't believe the difference & it smells amazing

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The Weleda Rosemary Revitalising Hair Tonic is usually £13.95 but is currently on offer for £10 at Boots. Holland & Barrett also sell it for £15.95. It's a "natural treatment against hair and scalp problems, hair loss, thinning or brittle hair, dandruff and dryness". The product description reads: "Used for centuries to stimulate the circulation, rosemary helps restore the health of the scalp, while stonecrop and horseradish extracts work together to discourage microbial development and reduce inflammation." The benefits are said to be: Strengthens hair, invigorates scalp and nourishes hair roots Reduces hair loss and promotes hair growth Uplifting rosemary scent, suitable for men and women Dermatologically tested, certified natural hair care Free from synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colourants or raw materials derived from mineral oils But what do customers think? 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Scalp massages alone won't cure hair loss, but it can help relax you, aid in lymphatic drainage, exfoliate and help topicals penetrate. Are there any products or foods/vitamins you recommend someone using or eating to help with hair regrowth? To support healthy hair regrowth, if you are experiencing hair thinning we'd recommend our Density Preserving Scalp Drops clinically proven to help slow hair loss with continued daily use within three months. Telogen effluvium (hair shedding) due to nutritional deficiencies can often be simply treated with changes to your diet, and nutritional supplements such as our specially formulated Density Healthy Hair Complex and Density Amino Acid Booster. Iron and Ferritin (stored iron) in red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin B12 in animal products and fortified plant-based foods. Protein from oily fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, and beans. 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Former Hearts boss shares he's undergone triple heart bypass surgery
Former Hearts boss shares he's undergone triple heart bypass surgery

Scotsman

time11 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Former Hearts boss shares he's undergone triple heart bypass surgery

The former Hearts boss had a heart attack while in the dugout at Tynecastle and has undergone another procedure. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hearts manager has revealed he has undergone triple heart bypass surgery, ahead of co-hosting a new podcast series. Craig Levein featured for Hearts as a player and has managed the club twice, between 2000-2004 and then again between 2017-2019. He was most recently in the dugout at St Johnstone and left his role at McDiarmid Park in 2024, keeping them up in the Premiership last year but the club were relegated last month following despite his and successor Simo Valakari's best efforts over the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former Hearts and Scotland boss suffered a heart attack in his second stint at Tynecastle and had stents fitted. After noticing a shortness of breath and then limited mobility walking uphill, Levein got himself checked out again. Craig Levein reveals triple heart bypass surgery He was then presented with two options, five stents or go for a bypass. Levein did not fancy the idea of having more stents fitted so went for the bypass, now feeling more like himself again. The number of drugs he was on during a stint in hospital though did leave the former Hearts man seeing some peculiar and freaky things, now getting ready to co-host the new Sacked in the Morning podcast series with Amy Irons. Levein said: 'I was struggling to walk and breathe at times, if I was going up any hill. It had to be done. They offered me more stents, something like five, and I was like, 'not for me'. The other option was the triple bypass and it's been a good decision. I'm feeling really good. I couldn't sleep. 'I was on about 14 different pills. I had delirium. I had no idea what was going on. I woke up, and I'm sitting on my bed, and there's a nativity play going on, and there's kids running about. And I swear, I think it's real. Then I look across to the other side of the ward, and there's a cubicle, and the curtain's open, and the devil's in there." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Why Craig Levein left St Johnstone Reflecting on time at St Johnstone most recently, Levein said last year on Sportsound: 'It was a surprise, but I've been in this movie before and no doubt I'll be in it again, if I get back in. I do think the performances have been good. Results haven't been as good as the performances. "Five sendings-off didn't help and we had a few injuries. I thought the team was competing in every match, but it's Adam Webb's club and he's decided it's time for me to go. I think Adam was looking at the bigger picture. I got on alright with him, but the priorities for me were about improving the squad and getting results. "If you don't get results, the chances are you lose your job and that's exactly what has happened. I think there were good signs the team were better than last season - we were playing better football and creating more chances. I felt we had a good chance of getting into the top six with the firepower we have. Adam calls the shots and I've got to respect that. American owners all seem to want to bring their guys in. I feel like I've done a decent job at St Johnstone, staying up last season and then the signings improving the team."

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