A determined carp fisherman battled on despite suffering a heart attack to finish second in a fishing competition.
Angler Ray Smee, aged 55 from Merston, Surrey, was unaware of what had happened, instead thinking an old ribcage injury had flared up again after he had stumbled on the bank. Despite the splintering pain in his chest he soldiered on through the five hour match and came out 100 carp better off than when he started, landing himself a second place finish and a £75 prize fund.
After the weigh-in, he decided to drive himself to hospital “just as a precaution”. He was shocked to learn that after a few tests, nurses said he had suffered a heart attack and needed two operations to save his damaged lung.
Speaking about the ordeal Ray said: “I didn’t feel particularly well at the time of the competition. I had a tightness and pain in my chest and tingling in the palms of my hands. I suppose it was probably the adrenaline which carried me through — I just really wanted to be fishing. I was really pleased with how I did. I came second and won £75. I am just pleased that I didn’t drop down dead!”
