A woman from Hilton who waited three days before seeking advice for what she thought was indigestion has urged anyone with similar symptoms to seek medical help urgently after she suffered a heart attack.

After developing symptoms on a quiet Friday night, Sallie Crawley eventually went to her GP who after running emergency tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG) explained that she was having a heart attack.

Sallie was sent to her local hospital and then quickly on to Royal Papworth Hospital, the UK’s leading heart and lung hospital, by ambulance.

Here, Sallie went straight into a catheter laboratory for an angioplasty procedure that saw three stents inserted into her heart to hold open an artery in an area where there had been a narrowing. She then spent time in critical care before receiving the rest of her treatment in the hospital’s cardiology wards.

“Although I waited three days before seeking help, I would urge anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack to seek medical help urgently. If in doubt, please get checked out,” said Sallie, who is aged 58.

Dr Will Davies, consultant cardiologist at Royal Papworth, said, “I’m delighted that Sallie has done so well following her heart attack. It’s surprisingly common for patients to think they are suffering from indigestion, even when they are having the most serious type of heart attack caused by a totally blocked artery.

“If patients experience chest pain or discomfort that is unusual for them, may spread to the arms, jaw or neck, is associated with sweating or nausea and lasts for more than 15 minutes then we recommend that they seek immediate medical advice”.

Now fully recovered from her ordeal, Sallie recently returned to Royal Papworth Hospital to meet Dr Davies. Whilst there she met members of the cardiology and cardiac rehab teams.

She has also written a book called The Basics of Heart Management at Home to support people with the practical and emotional aspects of living life after discharge from hospital.