Gym enthusiast who suffered two ‘Widowmaker’ heart attacks shares the two symptoms he ignored for months

Manchester-born chef, and gym fanatic, Ryan Mickleburg shared about the life-threatening health situation he faced. The 33-year old, who keeps taking part in marathons and other fitness competitions shared how he was left fighting for his life, after he suffered not one, but two ‘widowmaker’ heart attacks, a deadly attack after which only 10% of victims survive, as per a report in THE Sun.

What is a widowmaker heart attack

According to Cleveland Clinic, a widowmaker heart attack happens when a person suffers from a full blockage in the heart’s biggest artery. That means blood can’t move through the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which provides 50% of your heart muscle’s blood supply.




The Cleveland Clinic notes that a widowmaker heart attack is immediately life-threatening, as the heart muscle can die without enough blood flow.

The chef and fitness enthusiast recalls that he was training for the first of four marathons and was lifting 100kg when he had the double heart attack during a gym class in March. Ryan says he was “scared he was dying”. His mother Patricia rushed him to the hospital. After reaching the hospital, staff was working on him, when Ryan’s heart rate soared, and reached 225 beats per minute. Upon arrival, his heart rate soared again, reaching 225 beats per minute while hospital staff were working on him.


Survivor Ryan Mickleburg shares how he ignored numbness and pain in his chest prior to the incident but shrugged off the symptoms. “It was happening consistently for two to three months before, I kept getting numbness in the left side of my body, but I thought it was just a trapped nerve. I put it down to the gym”, says Ryan.

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According to Cleveland Clinic, Widowmaker heart attack symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Upset stomach
• Tiredness
• Lightheadedness
• Pain in other parts of your upper body (arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back)

Widowmaker heart attack prognosis

According to Cleveland Clinic, after suffering a widowmaker heart attack, one will need eight weeks for recovery. Some people can return to work in two weeks. Others need up to three months to recover.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice or diagnosis.