Para surfing 'a lifeline' after two heart attacks

Kay Millar has her eyes set on becoming a para surfer with Team England

A woman who survived two heart attacks has said para surfing has become a "lifeline" as she sets her eyes on representing Team England.

Kay Millar, 29, from Frome in Somerset, has limb-paralysis and arm weakness and has been in a wheelchair since the age of 12. Then last year she had two unexpected heart attacks.

She said this led to her stepping away from her career as a primary school teacher to focus on her health, during which she found a love of para surfing, and has since achieved a top international qualification.

"Surfing has become more than a sport for me, it's a lifeline," said Ms Millar. "It's the only time that I do something for myself."

Ms Millar (C) recently qualified to compete for England with her two coaches Ryan Trott and Hannah Mattinson

Ms Millar said the heart attacks "just came out of nowhere".

"I was in the hospital for a bit and it really impacted my physical abilities because I already had a physical disability," she said.

"I suffered from weakness and fatigue and the fear of it happening again."

After recovering, she found she had a change in perspective, and was determined to focus on her passion for surfing.

A former basketball player, Ms Millar discovered para surfing just after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

"I was in a really bad place mentally, and an organisation called Nova Sports offered for me to come along for a trial," she explained.

She said she instantly fell in love with surfing and threw herself into the sport.

She has recently returned from Spain where she met the criteria to qualify to compete in England.

"All of the athletes I work with work really hard, but Kay has got this kind of determination and dedication to sport that is unmatched," said Hannah Mattinson, surf coach for the Team England Para Surf Team.

"To see her fall in love with the sport and then get to the point where she's classified at the Euros and is trying to make the team - it's just insane to witness that."

Ms Millar hopes to compete with Team England Para Surfing

Ms Millar has faced several barriers to accessing the sport, including the cost.

"There are so many athletes out there who are as passionate and driven, but there are barriers due to it being a disability sport - most of it being funding," she said.

"I'm in a situation where if I want to drive forward, I'm going to have to put myself in debt."

Ms Millar is hoping to raise £1,500 to help her purchase the equipment she needs to help her grow as an athlete.

She says she is willing to do what it takes to represent England - an opportunity that would mean "everything" to her.

"I'm like a dog with a bone," she said. "I'm basically gunning for it now."