Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay, 69, has shared details of a severe golfing accident that nearly cost him his life. The incident occurred during a game at Loch Lomond when his electric golf buggy struck a hidden stump, causing the handle to hit him in the abdomen.
Initially dismissing the blow as a minor impact, MacAulay continued his round. However, he later became seriously unwell as the impact had severed an artery in his abdomen, leading to internal bleeding. He credits a retired surgeon friend, Douglas Keay, with noticing his deteriorating condition and calling for emergency services.
"When Dougie came out of the shower I was lying down on the settee in the changing room and just feeling ghastly," MacAulay recounted. "Luckily Dougie gave me a quick examination and phoned 999. If I’d got in my own car and tried to drive home, then it would have been curtains."
MacAulay was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he underwent a four-and-a-half-hour operation. He spent five days in high dependency care followed by three days on a general ward. "I owe my life to the consultant surgeon who identified what had happened," he said.
The comedian, who has also previously spoken about his battle with prostate cancer, is preparing for a string of festival appearances and stand-up gigs. He is scheduled to perform at Fringe by The Sea and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this month, followed by a two-month Scottish tour.