Metal writer Dom Lawson survives a heart attack at Bloodstock festival

The UK metal journalist Dom Lawson has revealed he suffered a heart attack on site at this year's Bloodstock festival. In a black-and-white selfie posted from his hospital bed, Lawson wrote, "Unfortunately, I had a heart attack on Sunday and was rushed to hospital," adding that he expects to need surgery soon and joking that it would take more than that to get rid of him.

Lawson has spent decades covering metal, writing for Metal Hammer, Prog, The Guardian, Blabbermouth and Loudwire, and hosting the radio show The Dompilation Tapes on TotalRock. He also appeared in the recent documentary Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition as one of the fans featured in the film. Lawson said he had felt unwell the day before the attack but stayed at the festival anyway, before Bloodstock's own medical team insisted on taking him to hospital the following day.

He credited the medical staff at Bloodstock and the UK's National Health Service with getting him treated, and said his partner Charlotte and his children had been a source of support. Musicians including Angela Gossow and Michael Amott of Arch Enemy, Robb Flynn of Machine Head, Ihsahn of Emperor, Shane Embury of Napalm Death, Dirk Verbeuren of Megadeth and Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel left messages of support online.

With the approval of Lawson's partner, a friend named Alex set up a GoFundMe to cover his medical costs while he is unable to work, writing that as a freelancer, going without income for a stretch is "financially ruinous." Alex added that Lawson had not asked for the fundraiser and would likely find it embarrassing, but that Charlotte had given her blessing to set it up.

Lawson has said he expects surgery in the near future, though no date has been given.