Paul Harrington

In July 2024, Paul Harrington, the well-known Irish musician and Eurovision Song Contest winner, experienced a serious pulmonary embolism. This happens when a blood clot that forms in a vein breaks away and travels to the lungs, which can be very dangerous if not treated quickly.

That year he’d been busy, working as usual, and had just presented the Eurovision Song Contest votes in May. Shortly afterwards he was in a playground with his young daughter and made a quick movement to avoid a child running past. This caused him to rupture his left Achilles tendon, an injury that resulted in his mobility being dramatically reduced for many months.

The feeling was familiar as he had ruptured his right Achilles tendon about 25 years ago while working on a touring production in North America. At the time, despite the pain, he continued performing for several shows with his leg strapped up. His leg became badly swollen and he sought further medical help when he got back to Dublin where doctors confirmed the Achilles rupture. “Scans also revealed a blood clot in my leg, and I was immediately put on medication for six months”. His leg was put in a plaster cast; he could not put weight on it and used crutches to get around. Fortunately, “I recovered well because I was on blood thinners and I was still moving around, which kept my circulation going”.

This time, however, the experience was very different. Paul, who was 64 at the time, was fitted with a large orthopaedic boot and again was told he wouldn’t be able to put any weight on his leg for three to four months. He was also given crutches, but he found that the boot was heavy and awkward, making it difficult for him to get around.

He was prescribed medication for six weeks due to the risk of developing a blood clot after a period of immobility.  This includes being immobile due to a limb being in a cast or boot, being confined to bed for three days or more, or travelling a long distance for more than six hours.

By July, without him knowing, a large clot had formed in his leg.

Tests showed it was not a heart attack, but a pulmonary embolism caused by a substantial clot that broke off and travelled to the lungs, causing sudden severe chest pain and breathlessness. Paul received medical attention, was treated with medication and although stable, was told that he would not be out of danger for at least three months.

Paul stayed in hospital for almost two weeks, much of which was spent in a high dependency unit. He was glad to return home but reflects that the event was “very traumatic and I’m so glad it’s behind me now”. He found that “the Haematology team were great. One nurse rang me often to help with the anxiety. She said I’d feel things, rhythms, that would worry me, but not to panic. Even after the clot was treated, I struggled with breathlessness. Carrying my daughter up the stairs could leave me exhausted.”

Recovery was slow and impeded by the fact that he was still in the orthopaedic boot until September. He was referred for physiotherapy as an outpatient. “They told me to walk for five minutes a day” but that was very difficult while wearing the boot. “I couldn’t do any substantial exercise for several months. Gradually, though, my fitness returned. I now walk and cycle regularly and have built my stamina back up”.

Paul continued to be monitored by respiratory and haematology specialists. Follow‑up scans including a cardiac MRI have shown that he has made a full recovery. There’s no remaining clot in his lungs, and blood tests are good.

Thrombosis happens when one or more blood clots form in your blood vessels (arteries or veins) stopping your blood from flowing normally. It is a serious condition and can be life-threatening. When a clot occurs in a vein (usually in your leg or pelvis) it is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If a clot breaks off and travels to your lungs, it is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). Together, DVT and PE are called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Blood clots can be very serious but there are measures that can be taken to prevent them from recurring which include staying physically active, taking medication and following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Pauls blood clot was provoked from his immobility, but he has always been ‘reasonably’ proactive about his health and maintains a healthy lifestyle, eating well, monitoring his blood pressure and oxygen levels at home, keeping physically active and going for regular checkups. He no longer requires medication for his thrombosis.

“I never thought to talk about what happened at the time. Even when I was doing bits of television or radio, I tended to gloss over it. I even managed to continue a weekly radio slot without really mentioning that anything was wrong”. It wasn’t that he was hiding anything, but he felt that people tended not to dwell on personal health issues.

There were times when he did tell people that “things had been extremely serious and that it had nearly been the end of the line for me. Their reactions often reminded me of how grave the situation actually was”.

Paul didn’t consider looking for support during his recovery. “At the time, I had been focused entirely on day‑to‑day survival and practicalities. My sole focus was simply recovering. But after speaking with family, especially around Christmas when emotions were still raw, I realised the psychological impact was more significant than I had admitted. Therapy was suggested, and it made me aware of how unsettling the whole experience had been”.

While Paul has not availed of therapy or counselling, he may do so at some stage in the future when the time is right for him. For now Paul is keen to build awareness of the risks and symptoms of blood clots and thrombosis and is supporting the Irish Heart Foundation as an ambassador as they provide information and support for anyone affected.

We have a range of free supports and services for people affected by thrombosis, heart disease or stroke which include professional counselling and emotional support programmes, our Nurse Support Line, information events, an online community and information on the website. These supports and services are designed to help people manage their conditions and support mental health and coping skills.

Paul found the whole experience extremely isolating.

Symptoms of thrombosis can depend on the location of your blood clot and how big it is. Paul would encourage anyone facing prolonged immobility to ensure they understand their clotting risk, know the symptoms and receive appropriate treatment. Symptoms can include swelling or pain in the leg, arm or pelvis, warmth or redness in the leg or arm, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, chest pain (particularly when breathing deeply), coughing or coughing up blood or severe headache that won’t go away.

If you are going into hospital, it is important to ask for a venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment. This will help you understand your risk and ensure steps are put in place to help reduce it. You or your doctor cannot know your risk of a blood clot properly if you are not risk assessed.

Thankfully Paul now feels he’s back to a level of normality.

Paul is forever thankful for the” support of true friends, and the support of my wife and the fact that she saved my life by calling the ambulance that night”.

If you think you are experiencing the symptoms of a thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, it is very important that you seek immediate medical attention. Dial 999 or 112 or present to the nearest Emergency Department. When it comes to thrombosis, it is crucial that everyone knows their risk, the signs to look out for and the need to seek medical attention fast.