A woman has survived a heart attack and two heart surgeries to fulfil her dream and graduate with a Masters degree.

Sharon Whittaker received her Masters degree in Investigative Psychology, which includes criminology and criminal profiling from the University of Huddersfield earlier this month.

The mum-of-two, from Downham Avenue in Rawtenstall, suffered a heart attack in March this year, halfway through her Masters course

She said: “It was quite a shock to hear when I had it confirmed in hospital that I’d had a heart attack at 54.

“It started with chest pain and I took 300 mg aspirin, which is what they give you in hospital if you’ve had a heart attack. It’s a blood thinner.

“I had two surgeries in March and April to put stents into my heart.”

Despite undergoing two surgeries, Sharon persevered with the studies.

She said: “I was able to do a lot of the work at home, I wrote my dissertation on geographical profiling using the Yorkshire Ripper as an example.

“I managed to keep on top of my work and I managed to graduate with a 2:1, just three per cent short of a first.”

Sharon chose to go back to university when she returned from working abroad.

She said: “I got my bachelor’s degree and post grad when I was in my thirties and I worked in management in the health service.

“I then spent seven years working in the Middle East as a director of primary healthcare in Qatar.

“When I returned to the UK. I had the time and the money so I wanted to do something that I enjoyed and interested me.

“I’d like to use my degree and maybe go into consultancy or human resources.”