A HOLMFIRTH man who suffered his first heart attack at the age of 38 has celebrated his 60th birthday by giving other patients a boost.

John Armitage is so grateful for the life-saving treatment he has received, he asked guests at his party to donate cash instead of presents.

The dairy farmer raised a total of £1,520 for the cardiology department at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The unit has supported John since he was diagnosed with serious heart failure in his 50s.

He said: “They have been very good to me over the years.

“My life was virtually over. I was housebound and couldn’t even walk 50 paces, because I just couldn’t get my breath.

“I feel so lucky to have been given a second chance.

“I just wanted to say thank you.”

John – who lives with his wife Janet at Cross Farm – was told his only hope of survival was a heart transplant.

Then heart specialists at Wythenshawe Hospital, Greater Manchester, offered him the chance to try out a new American implant called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

The small battery-powered device was implanted into his chest at Leeds General Infirmary five years ago to detect changes in his heart.

It can also correct it by delivering jolts of electricity.

John, who was one of the first in West Yorkshire to get an ICD, said: “It is very clever. It has an alarm system inside and when it goes off you can hear it.

“It has only happened twice when I had a build up of fluid. Luckily I’ve not needed an electric shock!

“It has really helped me and the quality of my life now is fine.

“I still have to be careful, but I can manage and we can have holidays and days out again.

John, still visits the department once every three months for check-ups.

Helen Eastwood, senior chief technician in cardiology, said: “We were amazed and thrilled that John decided to raise money for our department.

“It will be used to buy lead aprons that are used for when we are implanting devices.”