{"id":285043,"date":"2026-01-15T03:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T03:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/285043\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T03:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T03:23:09","slug":"man-worked-on-farm-for-five-hours-with-heart-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/285043\/","title":{"rendered":"Man worked on farm for five hours with heart attack"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DarrenDarren Kidd\/BHF<\/p>\n

Since his heart attack, Robert Nevin has adjusted his daily farming routine<\/p>\n

A 60-year-old man who spent a day working on his farm before driving himself to hospital with a heart attack is urging people not to ignore symptoms. <\/p>\n

Portrush farmer Robert Nevin woke in the middle of the night in February 2024 with what he believed was indigestion. <\/p>\n

He got up early the following morning and worked for five hours on his farm, before driving himself to hospital. <\/p>\n

It was only then that he was told he was having a heart attack. <\/p>\n

When Nevin woke up that morning, he said he had a “defined pain” in his chest. <\/p>\n

“I described it like someone smacking me with a fist”. <\/p>\n

At the time, Nevin worked on his farm with his brother, milking and feeding cows each day. <\/p>\n

“It has to be done, it doesn’t matter what is happening, that has to be done every day,” he said. <\/p>\n

Despite experiencing the chest pain, Nevin ate his breakfast and went to work on the farm for five hours. <\/p>\n

He arrived home for lunch at about midday and his wife Lorna, who is a nurse, saw he was still in pain and told him she was taking him to hospital. <\/p>\n

Nevin insisted on driving himself to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. <\/p>\n

At this point, Nevin said the pain in his chest was “ramping up”. <\/p>\n

Tests were carried out at the hospital and Nevin was informed he was having a heart attack. He was then blue-lighted by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry. <\/p>\n

“It was quite a shock,” Nevin said. He said the news of the heart attack hit him “like a ton of bricks”. <\/p>\n

“I had just come off a working day. Every day previous to that I had no symptoms that were leading up to this that I was ignoring. You’re just coming from total normality and routine to ‘bang’.”<\/p>\n

A heart attack happens when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This is a medical emergency. A lack of blood to the heart may seriously damage the heart muscle and this can be life threatening. <\/p>\n

‘A massive weight off my mind’ <\/p>\n

\"DarrenDarren Kidd\/BHF<\/p>\n

Portrush farmer Robert Nevin with wife Lorna, sons Jack and Peter, and dog Callie<\/p>\n

Nevin went on to have a stent fitted and was put on medication. A number of weeks after leaving hospital, he began a 12-week cardiac rehab programme. <\/p>\n

Since his heart attack, Nevin has adjusted his daily farming routine. <\/p>\n

“Dairy cows just demand every night and every morning,” Nevin said. <\/p>\n

“Long story short, we sold our milking cows,” he said. <\/p>\n

Now, Nevin has more flexibility with his mornings and evenings. <\/p>\n

“We just don’t have to be there every day,” he said, adding: “That’s a massive weight off my mind.” <\/p>\n

Nevin is hoping his story will help others, especially those in farming. <\/p>\n

“The easiest thing for all of us is just to ignore signs or feelings within your body,” Nevin said. <\/p>\n

“Be aware of your blood pressure, your cholesterol, go along to a health centre and get that taken and at that point at least you can be proactive,” he said. <\/p>\n

“We service our cars, we service our tractors, but wouldn’t it be good if we could have a little check up on ourselves now and again. Look into your health and don’t ignore signs.”<\/p>\n

How many people die of cardiovascular disease in Northern Ireland? <\/p>\n

In September<\/a>, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said that in 2023 in NI there were 4,227 deaths across all ages due to cardiovascular disease, the highest figure since 2012.<\/p>\n

That means that each month 350 families in Northern Ireland will lose a loved one to cardiovascular conditions like a heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n

\"DarrenDarren Kidd\/BHF<\/p>\n

Robert Nevin drove himself to hospital while having a heart attack<\/p>\n

To mark 65 years since the BHF began, the charity is unveiling 65 red benches across the UK in tribute to those living with cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks. <\/p>\n

A bench to Nevin will be unveiled in the Portrush\/Causeway area next month. <\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of a heart attack? <\/p>\n