A seasoned musician from Llanfyllin is returning to the stage for the first time since suffering a near-fatal heart attack.

Eddy Gartry, a 73-year old musician who has performed with the likes of Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters, is returning to the stage for the first time in two years alongside his with his seven piece rock group, the 'Big Magic Dance Band'.

On Saturday, November 26, Eddy and his band will be playing Priest Weston village hall, near Churchstoke, followed by a short annual Christmas tour of village halls around mid Wales, after a two year absence caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and a cardiac arrest.

In March 2022, Mr Garty was successfully resuscitated by a team of firefighters following a cardiac arrest.

Describing the incident, he said: “It was Monday and my band had a gig that night so the piano player, Lydia Homer, was at my house and we were sat in the lounge writing down what songs to play that evening.

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“I remember saying to Lydia that I felt a bit light headed, and that’s when I fell face down on the couch, no warning, no chest pain, just like sudden death syndrome."

Lydia, who is also from Llanfyllin, immediately rang 999 and began performing CPR until the first responders arrived.

The Llanfyllin firefighters were first on the scene and were able to resuscitate Mr Garty using a defibrillator and chest compressions.

After further treatment and stabilisation from ambulance crews, Mr Gartry was rushed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he underwent surgery to fit an internal defibrillator to his heart, and remained in hospital for eight days while he recuperated.

Eddy added: “I can’t thank the first responders enough and all the staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals who looked after me and help get me on my feet again.”

After Priest Weston, the band will perform in Dorrington village hall, near Shrewsbury, on December 3, then perform at the Cowshacc building in Welshpool on December 10, before appearing at the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth as part of the Jazz and Blues Christmas party on December 16 and then at Berriew Community Centre the following evening.