Coleman on road to recovery
DOUBLE Tyrone All-ireland winner Mickey Coleman has opened up on suffering a heart attack last month.
The Ardboe man, 41, who won All-ireland medals under Mickey
Harte in 2003 and 2005, was released from hospital in New York late last week.
Coleman felt he was in the best shape he had been in for years and was planning on returning to play football with Rockland GAA before he suffered a heart attack known as the ‘widow-maker’ which only has a 6% survival rate.
It is caused by a 100% blockage of the left anterior descending artery.
Detailing the heart attack, the well-known musician told RTE: “I got this pain in my chest, nothing like I ever had
before. I knew it was a heart attack straight away. It had to be. I never experienced anything like it. I ran up to Erin [his wife], told her what was happening and asked her to ring 911.
“The last thing I remember is kneeling on one knee.”
Coleman underwent an emergency procedure and had a stent put in to try and release the blockage.
The father of two is now urging people “of any age” to go and get checked for heart problems as he faces “the fight of his life”.
He added: “How did this happen me? I thought I was eating right, I was fit.
“Then again, the surgeon told me the reason I made it was because I was fit. I have cardio specialists and dietary experts to see now to ensure my recovery is underway. But I’ve already started on that road. It’s the fight of my life but I know I’ll get there.”