Badenoch cafe owner wins best award of the night – his attendance
A popular Badenoch café owner who has raised thousands of pounds for defibrillators in the strath through a series of marathon cycle treks has demonstrated their importance – after a dramatic recovery from his third heart attack.
Toni Vastano had to be put into an induced coma at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital after
being airlifted there from the Inner Herbrides where he fell seriously ill whilst on holiday in September.
Only the prompt actions of several local islanders on Islay who happened to be first on the scene and provided CPR saved Mr Vastano’s life.
He was at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards on Friday evening at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness – as the only café owner nominated in the best eatery category.
He could hardly believe it himself that he was able to attend.
Mr Vastano said: “It was just amazing, considering everything that has happened over these last few weeks.”
He told the Strathy: “It was all down to some fantastic people. The islanders, the amazing NHS staff and my wonderful team at the Old Post Office Café Gallery in Kincraig.
“My team have had to put up with so much over the last three years what with Covid and the Brexit chaos.
“I am so grateful to all of them. It was a fun night. We were honoured to have been the only café nominated, up against three top class restaurants, flying the flag for little Kincraig alongside the specially commended Highland Wildlife Park.”
Mr Vastano congratulated the Coll Hotel on taking the best eatery accolade – but he had won a bigger prize, simply being there to enjoy the occasion.
His wife artist Ann told the remarkable story of his rescue.
She said: “We had settled into one of our favourite accommodations at Lach Mhara on Islay. Toni had been complaining of episodes of indigestion for a couple of days, which we put down to a bit of over-eating, but after a particularly unsettled night a visit to Port Ellen Health Centre seemed sensible.
“On the way Toni made a strange expression which I thought was him making fun but I realised as he slumped forward it was something far more sinister.
“Panicking and driving and trying to hold him back from falling forward, I pulled in at a beach house where I could see a couple of figures, Tissy Northcote and Angus Mackinnon.
“They jumped into action, Angus calling the emergency services whilst Tissy and I got Toni out of the vehicle and laid him on the ground.
“Tissy, guided by the emergency services on the phone, proceeded with CPR.
“Midway through this she also managed to change phones, as her own was about to lose power. Her composure and command was incredible, with the ambulance 12 minutes away. By chance another local chap was passing and said he knew that a defibrillator was in place at a local hall – it had been recently fund-raised for.
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“Stuart Doyle of Islay Taxis got it to us.
“Tissy then activated it and around the same time the ambulance arrived and the local doctor from Port Ellen. The professionals took over and got Toni into the ambulance.
“A coast guard helicopter was mustered incredibly quickly and picked up Toni from the able hands of the ambulance services.”
Mr Vastano’s heart stopped again in the transfer to Glasgow and at the Queen Elizabeth he was put into an induced coma where he remained for a week. He was taken midweek to the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in nearby Clydebank, where the stent which had caused his myocardial infarction was replaced.
Nearly a fortnight into October, Mrs Vastano was fully alert again.
His wife said: “He will return to full health in time. He will get back on his bicycle of which he has cycled Lands End to John o’ Groats, Ireland, the west coast, across India and of course all the long straight, geese flanked county roads of Islay.
“Toni will return to fundraising for ‘Lucky2BHere’, our local Highland charity quite literally close to our hearts, of which he along with our local group had already raised funds for six local defibrillators previously.”
Mrs Vastano echoed her husband’s praise for those who had helped them.
She said: “In an increasingly challenging world it’s easy to miss these small acts but it’s the small things that make all the difference.
“We have been humbled by the kindness and brave unflinching acts of strangers.
“We understand the Ramsey Hall Port Ellen defibrillator was gifted by Duncan McNeill and Irene Johnston to the Port Ellen FC Juniors, in memory of their dear son Stuart MacNeill known as‘Cara’.
“Their selfless act of kindness and generosity has to us returned a husband, father, son, uncle, brother, cousin and friend. We are forever in their debt.”
