The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cyclist is desperate to get back in the saddle despite risk
Acyclist is back in the saddle months after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest – even though more exercise could cause his heart to stop again.
Damien Bird took ill during a solo bike ride in lockdown last year and is now getting on a special e-bike for the Etape Caledonia event in Perthshire tomorrow.
He said: “I was cycling along and then I just remembered waking up in the road.
“I was suddenly unconscious and came off my bike and dived sideways on to my shoulder.
“The fall lacerated my liver and lung. I had no idea what was going on.”
Tests later revealed he had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which means that during exercise his heart muscles tear and repair with fat, causing an irregular rhythm.
He has now had a defibrillator implant fitted which monitors his heart rate.
He said: “It’s not confirmed, but one of the consultants speculated that it could’ve been the impact with the road when I fell, and gave my body a bit of a dunt, that brought me back. But no one was there to know for sure.
“The thing I found difficult to overcome was the mental side.
“Being told to stop exercising was really hard – due to the nature of the condition, it gets worse if I exercise.
“The more I exercise, the more likely it is that I’ll have another cardiac arrest.”
He said it was difficult going into hospital because his wife had to leave him behind, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“It felt so surreal leaving her at the door – it was very difficult,” he said.
“I could sense the pressures – she was working and had to look after three kids, and the whole time she has no idea what was going on.”
Mr Bird was initially banned from exercise, so he took matters into his own hands and bought an e-bike.
He said: “My experience has really shifted my perception of e-bikes – I used to think of them as cheating when I was really into cycling, but it’s not cheating.
“You’re still putting in the effort, but the motor supports what you are doing.
“It just offers a level of assistance.”
He is raising money during Etape Caledonia for Cardiomyopathy UK and the British Heart Foundation.
His brother first got him involved in Etape Caledonia seven years ago and he got “hooked” on the activity.
He added: “Years ago, I loved cycling into Stonehaven for work.
“When it’s dark in winter and minus five degrees it’s a great way to wake yourself up in the morning.
“I’ve competed in sport since I was eight years old so it was a difficult adjustment, but the e-bike has really helped.”