Online supporters smash bouncer dad's Gofundme goal

Overnight on Tuesday the Gofundme appeal was nudging the £8,000 mark, by Thursday morning  it was nearly at £18,000 towards securing the key-hole surgery Scott so urgently needs to fix the large hole in his heart that is putting him at high-risk of having a life-changing stroke - or worse. 

And just a few hours later the goal was smashed thanks to more than 500 supporters who responded online.

The popular 33-year-old, who had to give up work as a commercial diver after his diagnosis but still works on the doors at Oban pub Markie Dans, said he felt "cheeky" asking for help but could "get over the embarrassment" because being able to live a happy stroke-free life and see his daughters Amber, five, and one-year-old Effie grow up far outweighed being a bit red-faced.

Minutes after the £20,000 was achieved, Scott told The Oban Times: "I’m pretty chuffed about that. I can’t quite believe how fast it has happened. It just goes to show what an incredible community we have. It’s crazy. I actually rang the cardiologist last night to say get ne booked in. We’re going to get to goal. Thank you everyone."

Scott’s heart-problem was initially picked up four years ago after a series of "messy migraines" landed him in hospital for tests and scans, but it was his GP, with experience as a dive doctor at Dunstaffnage’s hyperbaric chamber, who initially flagged up the hole in his heart.

Despite more scans and MRIs the problem was never properly investigated or followed up by the NHS, said Scott. He has since been lobbying for help by sending letters to top specialists, Scotland’s First Minister, MSPs and MPs - but he said he finally had to give up hope of getting the two-hour op done on the NHS because they do not have the funds.

This week he had travelled to the private Spire Hospital in Bristol to see one of the UK’s leading cardiologists who carried out more tests that revealed just how worryingly large the hole is.

One in four people can have a hole in the heart without knowing about it, but for Scott his condition is taking a heavy toll, leaving him desperate to get back to his old life and hopefully being able to dive for a living again.

"After news from the cardiologist in Bristol. I knew we had to turn to the community for help. We couldn’t afford it by ourselves," added Scott when he spoke to us earlier this week.