Triathlon runner's disbelief at mid-race heart attack

Tony Pilkington had no history of health problems before the heart attack

An experienced runner who tried to carry on after suffering a heart attack mid-way through a triathlon has said he "just couldn't believe what was happening".

Tony Pilkington, 60, started to feel an "intense pressure" on his chest while cycling during the Salford triathlon.

He pulled over despite wanting to continue the race and was taken to hospital after with help of passers-by and race organisers.

Mr Pilkington, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, said he was astonished to have suffered the attack as he had competed since 2015 and had no underlying health conditions.

The 60-year-old has been competing in triathlons since 2015

"I just could not believe it, cause I am relatively fit person," Mr Pilkington told BBC Radio Manchester.

He said he had "no underlying conditions which would normally trigger a heart attack such a high blood pressure or diabetes" and he was not overweight and did not smoke.

On the third lap of the race around MediaCity in Salford Quays, the former Ironman competitor stared to feel a "tingling and numbness" down his right arm.

This was followed by "intense pressure" to his chest, which led to the 60-year-old to think "this doesn't feel right".

"I was saying to myself, 'Surely, surely this can’t be a heart attack', but I recognised all the symptoms of it, so rather than push on, I just stepped off my bike."

Tony Pilkington said he is "feeling fine" after receiving hospital treatment

Mr Pilkington pulled up by the side of the course, where his symptoms continued to get worse, before a passer-by called for help.

He said at first he was thinking "I can recover from this, it’s just a bit of heartburn or indigestion", and was considering getting back on his bike.

But race organisers got him into an ambulance and took him to Wythenshawe Hospital after finding he had suffered a heart attack.

Mr Pilkington is now home following treatment and said he was "feeling fine", with his sights set on a return to the Salford triathlon next year.

He praised those in charge of the event for their "professional, efficient" response, and said he was thankful to the passer-by and staff at the hospital.

"Time was of the essence, and the reaction of all saved from me a worst-case scenario," he added.