Evening that went straight to the heart

Live heart dissection at Dundee hotel was not for the fainthearted but proved a sell-out success

Forget the red roses or a romantic dinner for two – couples wanting to get to the heart of the matter on Valentine’s night headed to the Malmaison Hotel in Dundee for an evening like no other.

The luxurious setting was turned into a science lab that was most definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Lovebirds seeking a night to remember snapped up tickets for a live heart dissection, and organisers were delighted to score a sell-out success.

Staff from the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (Cahid) at Dundee University sliced open the animal organ in the name of science – with a spellbound audience looking on.

The event was led by Claire Cunningham, a mortuary technician at the centre, and was part of a nationwide series of Anatomy Nights intended to give members of the public the chance to learn all about the human body.

Among those who put aside a night of romance for one of fact-finding and perhaps life-saving was birthday girl Katie Whyte from Dundee.

A neuroscience student at Dundee University, she was celebrating her 30th birthday with her friend Joanne Burns, 33, a bio-medical scientist.

Katie said: “I thought this was a nice way to get out of the house for my birthday with my friend, but we will be celebrating with cocktails later.”

Self-confessed “anatomy geek” Vicki Falls, 31, from Dundee, went along with fellow midwife Briony Campbell.

Vicki said: “I am totally an anatomy geek, it runs in our bodies.

“I can’t think of anything more fun to do.”

Briony was also looking forward to the dissection and an opportunity to test her knowledge.

“We will go out after but this will set us up for a good night out,” she said.

Paul Langridge ,47, a gardener from Dundee, kept his partner, Linda Wylie, in suspense all day as to what his Valentine treat was.

He said: “We have done the flowers and chocolates earlier today but I have been dropping hints like ‘have a heart’, and having a ‘heart to heart’ all day.

“Linda has no idea what we have come to.”

Linda, 47, a support worker from Laurencekirk, said: “I am very romantic and like surprises.

“It is always good fun doing things together but I have no idea what is going to happen.”

All proceeds from the evening went to the British Heart Foundation.