Former 7NEWS Queensland presenter Kay McGrath is sharing the heartbreaking story of her fiancé Richard Moore’s sudden death in India, hoping his experience will help Australians recognise the warning signs of heart disease.
McGrath and Moore were holidaying in India with close friends when what appeared to be a stomach illness took a devastating turn. Several members of the group had developed stomach problems, and Moore’s nausea, fatigue and lethargy were initially attributed to what they feared was “Delhi belly”.
But Moore’s condition deteriorated. After skipping meals and becoming increasingly tired, he woke one morning with severe chest pain and was rushed to hospital in Agra.
He had suffered a major heart attack.
Despite receiving medical treatment, Moore could not be saved.
McGrath has since reflected on the warning signs the group missed, saying they had no idea his symptoms could be linked to his heart.
“If we’d recognised Richard’s symptoms, I believe he’d still be alive,” she said.
An Australian cardiologist who happened to be travelling with the group attended the hospital and helped reassure McGrath that Moore was receiving appropriate care. An Indian doctor later asked why the couple had waited so long before seeking help.
For McGrath, the question has stayed with her.
“The answer: we simply had no idea that it was Richard’s heart,” she said.
The couple had undergone heart checks before travelling to India, with tests showing calcium build-up in their arteries, but McGrath said they did not fully understand what the findings could mean.
After Moore’s death, McGrath returned alone to the Taj Mahal, where the couple had visited together shortly before his heart attack.
“I needed to go back to the last place we had been together,” she said.
Now, more than a year after Moore’s death, McGrath is using her journalism experience to tell his story and raise awareness about heart disease.
Her story forms the first instalment of 7NEWS’ four-part Heart of It series, produced in partnership with the Heart Foundation. The series examines heart health, warning signs, risk factors and the importance of seeking medical attention early.
The special begins on 7NEWS Queensland and 7plus on Sunday, 30 August.
McGrath hopes sharing her experience will help others recognise symptoms that can be mistaken for less serious illnesses.
“I think it’s helping me with my grieving process, and my big hope is that it will help save other lives,” she said.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
