Friends rally round for Hungerford heart victim

Appeal fund set up

FRIENDS are rallying round after a Hungerford Newtown man suffered a devastating heart attack.

David Blass collapsed in front of his partner, Julia, at their home in Old Haywards Bottom, at 4.30pm on August 23.

He was taken to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, where staff drained his fluid-filled lungs and re-started his heart.

But there was more trauma ahead – Mr Blass’ heart condition was so severe he was placed on life support and into a medically induced coma.

For weeks, his life hung in the balance.

Family friend Anne Buckingham said: “He survived, but then contracted pneumonia, and again fought to get better.”

After another two weeks, 72-year-old Mr Blass had made enough progress to be transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he had a heart by-pass operation.

Ms Buckingham said: “The operation went well, but his recovery has been difficult, with various medical problem cropping up, slowing his recovery.

“He has been released from hospital this week for a long convalescence, where Julia will have to take care of him 24 hours a day, as he cannot be left alone for even a few minutes for some time.

“They are both self-employed psychotherapists, and have helped so many people themselves, it would be lovely to be able to help them in return, and to raise enough money to allow David to recover in peace, without the anxiety that they might lose their house, as there is no money coming in while they cannot work, of course, and their meagre savings have been used up during the past month with David’s hospital stay.”

Ms Buckingham has set up an appeal fund and hopes friends will donate to help the couple through the hard times ahead.

If you would like to chip in, visit the JustGiving page is https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/David-Blass