Medics heroically saved a man's life on the racecourse when he suffered a heart attack celebrating a winner.
Neil Buckman collapsed after seeing a horse he part-owns, Shouldvebeenaring, race clear of the opposition at Ripon on Sunday. The pensioner, from Cheltenham, ran onto the track to welcome the Richard Hannon-trained horse back to winners' enclosure. Moments later, Buckman keeled over and the on-course medical team rushed to his aid.
Tim Palin, spokesperson for the horse's syndicate Middleham Park Racing, said the racing fan had to be resuscitated and paramedics worked on him for around 20 minutes.
"It was a really close call," he said. "Neil ran out to celebrate and lead the horse into the winners' enclosure. Unfortunately he suffered a heart attack and keeled over. Thankfully the doctor and paramedics were close by and got to him within seconds. They were fantastic – they saved his life."
Racing was delayed while Buckman was treated and taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. After an assessment, it was found the owner with a share in five racehorses will need a triple heart bypass, Palin added.
"Thankfully it happened when medical professionals were already there," he continued. "Neil has been in regular contact and is surprised to hear so many people have been asking about him. The love and warmth of the racing community has shone through in this difficult situation.
"His car is still in the car park and when he is better we will be arranging for the trophy from the race to be his."
Ripon managing director James Hutchinson said: "When the gentleman went down our medical team administered immediate care to him. They brought him back and he was taken to hospital. I am pleased there was a positive outcome and proud of how our team responded."
Shouldvebeenaring, who won impressively on just his second career start, has been given an entry for the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury in July. His stable holds the record for the most successes in the valuable contest for juvenile sprinters.
Hannon junior has trained three out of the last four winners, adding to his father's seven triumphs between 1992 and 2009.
"Shouldvebeenaring is a nice horse for Neil and the syndicate to look forward to. I hope he feels better soon," the trainer said. "I will talk to Tim and see where we go next."
The son of Havana Grey was Buckman's first Flat scorer with the Middleham Park group. Another of his horses, the Fergal O'Brien-trained Herewegohoney, struck over hurdles at Chepstow shortly after he signed up in April.
