A TEENAGER described as a “walking miracle” after surviving a cardiac arrest at college says he took part in a charity walk “to give something back”.

Engineering student Dan Edwards, aged 17, collapsed and gashed his head on a computer table after running up stairs at Worcester College of Technology in the city’s Deansway last September.

His heart stopped beating for seven minutes after suffering the cardiac arrest.

But today Dan, who lives in Wolsey Close, off Newtown Road, joined his family and about 100 others to take part in the Worcester Heart Walk – a four-mile riverside hike organised by the British Heart Foundation.

“When I got diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (last July) we had no idea what it was,” said Dan.

“I wanted to do the walk because after having the cardiac arrest I wanted to give something back to the community. I’ve raised about £174 so far.

”Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle where the muscle wall becomes thickened.

Dan was back at college by November and has since been fitted with a cardioverter defibrillator to regulate his heartbeat.

He took part in the walk with mum Sue – who shortly after his collapse described her son as a “walking miracle” – dad Darren and sister Megan.

“We’re very proud of him,” said his mum.

  • Heart Walk 2013 picture gallery

    The circular walk, beginning at The Hive and taking in the riverside path to Diglis Bridge, was started by a face familiar to millions of sports fans.

    Jim Rosenthal, famous for fronting TV coverage of football, rugby and Formula One, has his very own link to the charity as his Worcester-based father-in-law Stan Smith has had a heart bypass operation.

    “There are no bad charities but I think many people can relate to this one,” said Jim.

    “Somebody came up to me in the hotel we’re staying in and said they fully support the charity. Some think that the heart attack is all sorted when you’ve had a heart operation but it’s just the start of a long, hard battle.

    “I’m delighted to be in Worcester to support the walk, particularly on such a lovely day.”

    The presenter didn’t hang around in the city after the walk as he made his way to West Bromwich to cover Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match in charge of Manchester United for the club’s TV channel.

    The walk was due to have been held in March but was postponed because of poor weather.

    As a British Heart Foundation ‘Heart City’, Worcester is one of nine towns and cities chosen by the charity to host a Heart Walk. Funds will go to its Mending Broken Hearts Appeal which aims to raise money to find a cure for heart failure.