The 56-year-old was undergoing rehabilitation in the Port Macquarie Private Hospital for a spinal fusion operation when he noticed some pain in his elbow.

“I initially dismissed it but also felt tired too,” he said.

“The staff got me back to my room and by then I’d noticed that the pain had moved down one side and across to my heart.

“The last thing I remember was the staff putting me on an ECG. The next time I came around there was a guy doing compressions (CPR) on me and from what I understand they also ‘shocked’ me too.

“I guess having a heart attack in a hospital is a case of right place, right time,” he said.

“I’m a very lucky man. I was gone. The result is fantastic.”

Stephen said the staff at the private hospital immediately rang the base hospital and spoke with staff in the specialist cardiac unit.

He said the cohesion between the facilities was another reason for his successful recovery.

“I was transported by ambulance from the private hospital through to the ED (Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s emergency department) where I was assessed by the cardiology team.

“They put me straight through (to the cardiac unit) and I was on the table within 30 minutes of suffering my heart attack.”

Stunningly, 30 minutes later he had undergone surgery to insert stents and was back in the unit and recuperating within an hour of suffering his heart attack.

“Someone – and I reckon it was my dear old mum and dad – were looking over me,” he added.

Stephen says he plans not to waste his ‘second chance’ and will change his dietary habits and plans to lose more weight through exercise.

“I would urge every bloke out there to have regular check ups. It doesn’t matter what it is, just get it check out.

“And don’t cut out exercise. My biggest regret is that I stopped exercising when I got out of the army.”

Stephen also said he plans to work with the base hospital’s heart support group.