‘I won a stethoscope in a pub darts competition - and it saved my life’

Credit: ITV News.

It was the pub darts competition which turned out to be a lifesaver.

Terry Killeavy picked up what he thought was a silly novelty prize of a stethoscope after winning the first round during a few drinks with friends at his local pub in Nottingham.

But when he jokingly tried it out, he heard the tell tale sign of a potentially fatal heart problem.

That darts game was 20 years ago tonight - and Terry is celebrating two decades of good health since.

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It all began with a ‘bring your own prize’ darts evening on January 31, 1997, at the Admiral Rodney in Wollaton.

Everybody who wanted to enter had to bring along a gift, with the aim that all the goodies would be gone by the end of the night.

The prizes available were as diverse and unusual as garden aerators and sets of wheels, Terry said - so when he, then aged 35, won the first round, he opted for the smallest package available.

He said as soon as he tried it out, he realised something was not right.

After his initial self-diagnosis, doctors discovered he had a hole in his heart the size of a 50p piece and growing - and told him he was lucky to be alive.Within weeks, he was on the operating table for life-saving surgery.

It’s thought Terry’s good fitness levels may have masked the symptoms. Credit: Terry Killeavy.
Terry hopes to continue running marathons for many years to come. Credit: ITV News.

Terry, who now lives in Gotham, said he has always tried to stay in shape, with dozens of marathons under his belt.

It was his excellent physical condition which is thought to have protected him from symptoms for as long as it did.

He still has to have a check-up once a year, to see that everything is still ticking properly - and he can be found in the gym four times a week, making sure he stays fighting fit.