RADIO Scotland broadcaster Tom Morton has revealed his life was saved by his medical student daughter.

 

Mr Morton, 59, announced last week he was bowing out of his popular BBC show after developing a heart complaint, which caused him to have a coronary attack.

He has now said his life was saved by the quick thinking of daughter Martha, who is in her third year of a medical degree at Aberdeen University.

Mr Morton, who presents Radio Scotland's Morton Through Midnight programme, was at home on Shetland when he felt crippling pains in his chest and left arm.

"I was in the kitchen when I felt this dreadful pain down my left arm and realised my life could be in danger," he said. "[Martha] rushed in to see what had happened and spotted the signs of a coronary attack."

Martha then called her mother, Susan, a local GP, who advised her to give her dad an aspirin and wait for her to travel the 10 minute journey to the family home in Hillswick, on the main island.

"Then Susan piled me into the car and drove me to her surgery where I got a medical spray, which opened arteries blocking blood to my heart, and painkilling morphine," Mr Morton added.

He was then taken by ambulance to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick before being transferred by emergency air ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where a diagnostic angiogram revealed a major artery was 75% narrowed.

Dr Morton said: "Tom was lucky. Martha's quick action was vital and we are proud of the way she coped.

"It was not easy watching her dad struggling."

His close call has forced the presenter to give up his late night slot, which will be taken over by former Radio Clyde DJ Suzie McGuire.

Mr Morton added: "After consulting Susan and the kids I have decided that my life is obviously more important.

"It's not an option to ignore what's happened to me."