Heart bypass survivor to take on duathlon after life-changing surgery

Humayun Qureshi, 44, from Winchester, was admitted to hospital after developing swollen legs and sharp chest pain alongside his psoriasis.

Doctors at University Hospital Southampton later told him he would need a quadruple heart bypass, which he underwent in July 2025.

Following the surgery, Mr Qureshi spent 10 days in intensive care, including three days on a ventilator. He regained consciousness five days later.

Humayun Qureshi is ready to take on the challenge (Image: Humayun Qureshi)

He said: “When I woke up, I thought, ‘Am I going to be able to overcome this?’”

Mr Qureshi praised the staff at Southampton for the care he received. He said: “The surgeons were world-class, professional and absolutely incredible."

Returning home brought a new challenge: rebuilding his health after major surgery. He began with short walks and dietary changes, losing 16kg in six weeks. Now a regular gym-goer averaging 10,000 steps a day, his attitude to physical challenges has transformed.

Mr Qureshi said: “I regarded a marathon as something exceptional, but my recovery has given me a different perspective of what I’m capable of."

He will take on the Dorney Lake Duathlon in Windsor on March 13, combining running and cycling as he continues his post-surgery recovery.

Mr Qureshi will raise funds for the Wessex Cardiac Trust, which helps those affected by heart conditions across the region. The fundraiser can be viewed online at gofundme.com/f/from-heart-bypass-to-duathlon-for-heartbeat-wessex

He states, “Fundraising is about more than supporting the charity and, as the child of two immigrant parents, I see giving back to the people who supported me as an important part of my life."

He wants the challenge to be his own way of giving something back to society, particularly to the NHS staff who helped him during a period when his future was uncertain.

Mr Qureshi added: “It’s a small thing to do for the people that have saved your life,” he said.

He hopes his recovery will encourage others who have undergone major heart surgery not to see their diagnosis as the end of their active lives.

Describing his recovery as a “second opportunity”, Mr Qureshi says he wants to make the most of it.

He said: "I want to do more in life than just a nine-to-five; I wanted to do something for myself and my community."

At the time of writing, Mr Qureshi has raised more than £1,100.