Ragsy’s battle with hereditary heart disease ends in triumph

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Welsh singer-songwriter Gary Ryland, widely recognized as Ragsy, is in recovery after a critical open heart surgery performed in Cardiff.

He praised the cardiology team responsible for his care, describing them as “magical superheroes” and expressed deep gratitude to the NHS staff who, in his words, “saved his life.” Ragsy’s ordeal began with a diagnosis of hereditary heart disease, leading to his admission to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) on March 28 for a double heart bypass, a procedure that has become increasingly common in the UK, where cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death according to the British Heart Foundation.

The Aberdare native, who gained national attention on The Voice under the guidance of Sir Tom Jones, shared that he was terrified before surgery, especially as a norovirus outbreak meant he could not have visitors for support.
“Honestly, those guys at the University Hospital of Wales are magical superheroes,” he said, adding, “Everybody that I met [in UHW] throughout the whole thing was amazing.

They saved my life and I will be forever grateful.” Ragsy’s family history with heart disease is significant—his late father suffered his first heart attack at just 21, highlighting the hereditary nature of his condition; research shows that genetics can play a substantial role in cardiovascular risk, with up to 40% of heart disease cases linked to inherited factors.

Ragsy first noticed symptoms such as breathlessness and chest pains in late 2022, despite a healthy lifestyle that included frequent cycling and nutritious eating, underscoring that even those who appear fit are not immune to underlying genetic risks.

“I’m a keen cyclist and I used to go out riding at least four or five days a week to get my heart and lungs pumping,” he recalled, but soon found himself struggling with basic activities.

After several weeks of persistent symptoms, he consulted his GP and was referred for further tests, culminating in the diagnosis at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil in September 2023; the emotional impact was immediate, as he admitted, “I just burst into tears,” and his thoughts turned to his children, saying, “My first thought was my two kids.I want to see them grow up.I’m not ready to bow out.”

Facing surgery, Ragsy described the vulnerability of entrusting his life to medical professionals, noting, “You’re in the most vulnerable state you’ll ever be in as you’re putting your life in someone else’s hands.”

He credited the calm and compassionate hospital staff for easing his anxiety, stating, “I admit I was bawling my eyes out before the surgery, but the nurse, the porter and the anaesthetist who were with me really calmed me down and made me feel as best as I could.”

After hours in the operating theatre, he awoke later that day and signaled to clinicians with a thumbs up, and within five days, he was discharged home to the Cynon Valley—a testament to advances in post-surgical cardiac care, which now often sees patients returning home within a week after major operations.

Looking ahead, Ragsy will undergo regular check-ups and physiotherapy to monitor his recovery, with hopes of returning to the stage within six months.

“I have a few things planned when it comes to the singing and song-writing,” he shared, and expressed eagerness to resume cycling, saying, “And I’m excited to eventually get back on the bike – it’s been too long.”

In a heartfelt message, he added, “Much love and big cwtches to all the hospital staff who cared for me. I can’t wait to see them all again on the next part of the journey.”