Ashby woman who went into Scunthorpe hospital for operation says ' I never expected I'd be fighting for life'

An elderly woman has spoken of her "near-death experience" after recovering from a operation which went wrong.

Margaret Hunter, 77, was admitted for a one-day operation at Scunthorpe General Hospital after doctors noticed that her blood pressure was high, but she ended up staying for 11 weeks.

As reported, the Ashby woman was told she needed stents – or tubes – placed in her arteries to improve blood flow and help prevent the arteries from bursting. But an artery was punctured during the operation and she was left in a critical condition.

Now, after returning home, Mrs Hunter has spoken for the first time about her ordeal.

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"It was horrendous," she said. "I didn't expect it at all after getting a letter to go into hospital.

"I was all wired up to big machines and my oldest son thought he might lose me.

"I didn't think or feel anything, I was just out for the count. But I am here to tell the tale, which I honestly didn't think I would be."

On July 26 – three days after she was first admitted – Mrs Hunter was taken to Castle Hill Hospital in Hull. But after suffering a heart attack in the ambulance, she had to go through an eight-and-a-half hour operation to repair the damage.

The incident comes six years after she had a brain tumour removed.

Mrs Hunter said: "I have been through so much in my life, so I could only think 'why me now?'

"Six years ago I had a brain tumour removed at Hull Royal Infirmary. I have been going back for scans, but recently was given the all clear.

"The recovery didn't bother me too much. But now I feel like a horse has hit me in the chest. I can't breathe properly and a full recovery is going to take around six months.

"Somebody up there must have cursed me. But I have got to this age and I am pleased in a way, because as time goes on I will get my strength back. I am a very determined woman."

Her husband, George Hunter, was left distraught by the series of events and has made a formal complaint to Scunthorpe General Hospital.

He said his wife nearly died after she had been transferred to Hull's Castle Hill hospital, and that he was told by nurses that she only had a slim chance of pulling through.

Mr Hunter, 77, said: "It is lovely to have her back home, but she is still poorly and can't get out at all."

Wendy Booth, director of Clinical and Quality Assurance for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have received a formal complaint from Mr Hunter and this continues to be subject to a thorough investigation. Once this is complete, we will liaise with Mr Hunter and share with him our findings."

Castle Hill Hospital declined to comment.