Norwich runner who had heart attack before race 'lucky' to be alive

Dick Cheung blacked out and collapsed as he was warming up for the race last autumn.

The 48-year-old regained consciousness and was considering pulling out of the event but said he “decided to go for it”.

He went on to complete the Peterborough Half Marathon in a time of just over one hour and 35 minutes but now realises he is “lucky to be alive”.

Dick Cheung (left) and his brother Jack (Image: Submitted)After crossing the finish line, Mr Cheung still felt "light-headed" and "short of breath" and was seen by staff at St John's Ambulance who discovered he had an irregular heartbeat.

He was advised to go to hospital but went home before taking himself to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital later that day.

He underwent a series of tests and was told it was serious and that he had suffered a heart attack.

Dick Cheung (far left) with brothers Sze-Ming (left) and Jack (right) and mum Wai-Hing (centre) (Image: Submitted)

Mr Cheung, from Hellesdon, was told would need to undergo a triple heart bypass where healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the body are used to bypass damaged coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart.

He said: "I thought Jesus.

"It was a massive shock to the system but I’m glad to have discovered I had a heart condition knowing that it could be fixed."

Dick Cheung (right) with brother Jack while he was in hospital (Image: Submitted)Mr Cheung's life-saving surgery at the Royal Papworth Hospital had to be delayed after he was found to have coronavirus, but finally went ahead in November last year.

Dick Cheung with hospital staff (Image: Supplied)After having spent more than six-and-a-half weeks in hospital he is now on the slow road to recovery and is walking again but hopes to get back running later this year.

Dick Cheung walking around Sloughbottom Park on Christmas Day 2023 just a month after his operation (Image: Supplied)He said: "I feel a lot better now."

Mr Cheung, who together with his brother Jack and mother Wai-Hing run the Chung Hing Chinese restaurant in Hellesdon, said he hopes to resume work at the restaurant which has been closed while he underwent surgery.

Dick Cheung in action at a 5k race in Hainford (Image: Mick Liston)It is due to re-open today, in what is its 40th anniversary year.

He said: "You never know what’s around the corner, life is precious and enjoy it to the full."

IN MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER

Mr Cheung, who together with his twin brother Jack took up running to honour the memory of their older brother Sze-Ming who was killed after being hit by a car on his bike at Swannington, near Reepham in 2018 to help "keep Sze's flame alive".

Scene of the fatal crash at Swannington (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

The 44-year-old had been cycling on Reepham Road, Swannington, near Reepham, as part of training for an iron man race in Italy when he was involved in a fatal crash with a grey Nissan Navara on June 7, 2018.

An inquest held into the death of the popular runner, cyclist and triathlete, in 2020 heard his bike had been struck by the Nissan which swerved to avoid a van that had overtaken the cyclist.

CCTV footage showing the van that failed to stop at the scene of the crash that killed cyclist Sze-Ming Cheung (Image: Norfolk Police)

The driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol and subsequently arrested for drink driving and causing death by dangerous driving.

But despite being found to be more than twice the legal limit for driving, the driver was never charged with an offence nor had any action taken against him.

Following the inquest, the case was further reviewed and the driver of the other vehicle involved, a 35-year-old man who was initially spoken to, was arrested in October 2020 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

But police later confirmed that as a result of insufficient evidence no further action will be taken against the man.