Kim Wilde on dad Marty’s horrifying hospital dash and life-saving surgery

Marty Wilde had a heart attack during lockdown (Image: Getty)

Kim Wilde, the iconic 80s pop sensation, shot to fame with her debut single, Kids In America, in 1981.

The song was a worldwide hit and propelled her to sell over 30 million records, making her the voice of a generation of rebellious youth and a poster girl for teenagers everywhere.

Kim's career began as a teenager, singing backup for her father, Marty Wilde, who was amongst the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll.

When asked if her father's success inspired her, she told OK!: "Yes, but I was happy just being a backing singer. I never thought I'd ever take centre stage.

"I loved doing harmonies because I was brought up listening to The Beach Boys and The Beatles. The turning point came when my dad wrote the song Kids In America for me [which was released in 1981] the rest is history."

Marty's life was saved by the NHS when he received a pacemaker (Image: PA)

Yet, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for the pop icon. The 64-year-old detailed a particularly distressing period during the 2020 lockdown when her father Marty suffered a severe heart attack.

"It was awful because we couldn't go to the hospital. We had to FaceTime every night to see his face - that was the hardest part," Kim recounted.

She expressed immense gratitude toward the NHS for saving her dad with a pacemaker implantation. Far from slowing down, her father bounced back quickly, diving into the creation of a new solo album and even making plans to tour again at the grand age of 85.

Showing no signs of slowing down herself, Kim performed alongside Sting at Radio 2 In The Park in September.

Kim expressed her disbelief, saying: "I'm still in shock that Radio 2 actually wanted me to do it."

Kim went on to sell over 30 million records (Image: Getty Images)

"I remember being on stage and suddenly there was Sting walking towards me, and he hugs me and says, 'I'm going to watch you perform now.' I thought, 'Oh my God, today just keeps getting better'."

She added: "It was an amazing day because I had heard my new single had gone on to the BBC Radio 2 A list – so I was over the moon."

The singer is back on top form after a challenging year recovering from a slipped disc that took her out of action for four months.

She shared: "As I've got older, keeping fit has become more of a priority," before elaborating on how her perspective on fitness has evolved over time.

"In my younger days it was more about vanity. I work with a personal trainer twice a week and recently discovered cold water dipping. I gave up alcohol eight years ago. I used to worry about ageing, but now I'm 63, I just don't," Kim said.