Cardiac Rehab Success Story
Retired international teacher enjoys a new lease of life after taking part in 16-week cardiac rehabilitation programme.
Philip Sperinck (67) experienced his first cardiac event in 2019 while attending hospital for an ECG scan. He was rushed into theatre and underwent emergency surgery to have three stents fitted.
Following the successful operation, ‘Mr Philip’ as his students called him, was able to continue teaching abroad for the next few years, before retiring in July 2025 and returning to England.
However, after returning home, Philip began to notice increasing breathlessness when carrying out everyday activities, including walking up and down the stairs.
Encouraged by his wife, he attended a precautionary check-up at Diana Princess of Wales (DPoW) hospital, where an ECG scan revealed that his heart was functioning at only 30% capacity, leading to a diagnosis of severe heart failure.
Philip underwent a second operation to have an additional stent fitted, helping him to improve his heart’s functioning to around 45%. Following his surgery, Philip completed phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation at DPoW, reintroducing exercise in a safe and controlled way under the guidance of the Cardiac Rehabilitation team.
He was then referred onto the community-based Phase 4 Cardiac Rehabilitation programme with Lincs Inspire– a 16-week programme combining circuits-based exercise and gym activity, delivered by BACPR-qualified instructors. Since joining the programme at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, Philip has gone from strength to strength and looks forward to attending his weekly sessions alongside the friends he has made through the group.
“The first week was really difficult,” Phillip explained. “I was doing one cardio station to one resistance station, slowing and stopping. Now I’m doing three cardio exercises to one resistance exercise and now I’m really moving.”
“It’s made a big difference. The support from both the hospital nurses (Phase 3) and the instructors at Lincs Inspire (Phase 4) has been fantastic”.
Phillip also praised instructors David (Digger) and Wayne for the personalised approach they take with participants. “They tailor the exercises to you. They push you a little bit, but not too much. I enjoy the friendship within the group. Everyone’s in a similar position and we support each other.”
After completing the 16-week programme, Philip plans to take out a leisure membership so that he can continue to exercise – this time with his wife, who is already a member. Through gradually increasing his activity levels, he hopes to return to swimming and try indoor bowls at Grimsby Health & Wellbeing Centre.
Wellbeing Fayre
As part of sharing his success story, Philip has been invited to nominate a charity to receive proceeds from the annual Lincs Inspire Wellbeing Fayre, which takes place on Sunday 4 October, 10am to 2pm at Grimsby Health & Wellbeing Centre.
Philip has chosen to nominate local campaign Josephine (Jo) Chatterton’s fundraiser for Cardiac Risk in the Young, to bring cardiac screening events for young people to the area in 2027.
The campaign is led by Monica Chatterton MBE, whose daughter Jo Chatterton, died suddenly aged 24 in 1999 due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
