‘I didn’t think a heart attack would happen to me at 46’ – country music singer Michael English’s ‘shock’ at health scare

The top entertainer was on his way to perform at a concert in Co Waterford last week when he passed out in his car.

A short time earlier English had been driving the vehicle, but after stopping at a garage to refuel, fortunately he’d asked his manager to take over behind the wheel as he was feeling unwell.

“It was a shock – at 46 I didn’t think it would happen to me,” Michael said.

“I was lucky that there was someone with me in the car and lucky that I had handed over the driving to my manager Bryan Buckley. The fact that I blacked out could have been a disaster.”

Recalling the events of last Thursday week, English says he wasn’t on top form that day as he set out for the concert in Cappoquin, Co Waterford.

“Leaving the house I didn’t feel 100c, I felt a bit weak or tired in myself and I’d been off for three days, which was unusual for me,” Michael said.

“We stopped on the journey to get diesel and at that point I asked Bryan would he mind driving. We were about 20 minutes from Waterford and when we resumed the journey I blacked out in the passenger seat.

“Bryan didn’t know what was happening and I can only imagine how scary it was for him. But he got me to the hospital as quick as he could because he knew it was something serious.”

After receiving care at University Hospital Waterford and the Hermitage Clinic in Dublin, English was given the green light to return to work and is currently hosting a weekend of shows in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

“Thankfully I didn’t need surgery. I’m on some medication and will be having more cardiac tests when my heart gets a chance to recover, but I feel great now, it’s as if nothing had happened, I’m 100pc,” Michael said.

“But it has been a shock to the system and a shock to everyone. I never smoked and I’m a moderate drinker. I’m in good shape and I certainly don’t carry any weight. I’m the right weight for my height.

“I don’t abuse myself at all. I like a pint of Guinness with friends, but I wouldn’t be classed as a drinker. When you perform 300 shows a year that means I’m not drinking those nights and I don’t drink every other night either.

“But I’m known in the business for working a lot. I’m often described as “’he busiest act in the country’, so I probably need to address that.

“I’ve said in the past that if there were eight days in the week I’d work eight days because I do love it. I eat, sleep and drink the business. I love everything about it.

“But one thing I have learned from this is that I do need to have a balance. I’m certainly not cutting back, absolutely no way, it’s full steam ahead again from now on.

“But what I am going to do is that on my day off, or certainly once a week, I’m going to have a Michael day where I don’t do music but go swimming and walking and so on.

“I know I don’t get enough sleep because I’m an early riser. No matter what time I get home at, even if it’s 6am, I’ll be up at 9.30 or 10am, so I’ll have to look at getting more sleep.

“Up to now, if somebody asked me, I would have thought I was very fit. It just goes to show you should mind yourself, you have one body and one heart and you should look after your health and get regular check-ups. Men, in particular, are not good at that. But it could save your life.”