Radio host suffers massive heart attack as he shares snap from hospital bed

Heart 80s radio presenter Simon Beale has shared that he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after suffering a heart attack. Despite being generally healthy, the 53-year-old admitted he initially dismissed the idea that it was anything too serious.

Simon, who is the breakfast show host on Heart 80s, posted a monochrome photo of himself in a hospital bed, hooked up to several wires, on Instagram. He shared that he had experienced a serious medical episode three weeks ago while out walking his dog. "Even when it was happening, I was trying to convince myself 'it can't be a heart attack'," he confessed in the post's caption. "I'm 53, never smoked, do 15,000 steps a day and eat averagely healthily. And yet, I couldn't deny the paralysing pain across my chest, so I phoned 999." He continued: "Within a couple of hours, I'd had two stents fitted in the main artery at the front of my heart, which was completely blocked.

"I'd gone from a typical Monday (work, shopping, walking the dog) to being rushed in an ambulance with blue lights flashing, undergoing life-saving surgery and embarking on the lengthy journey to recovery, hooked up to numerous monitors."

He expressed his gratitude for those around him: "It's obviously been a massive shock but it's also made me even more grateful, not just for life itself, but also for the incredible people around me."

In a touching note, he praised the NHS as "phenomenal" and lauded the "exceptional" care he received. "The NHS were (and are) phenomenal. The care I received was exceptional and I am beyond thankful to every doctor, nurse, consultant, specialist and hospital worker who looked after me for 8 nights. They saved my life. They are true heroes.

"My family, who dropped everything to be there for me; friends who phoned, messaged and have done whatever they can to help practically; and my work family at Heart and Global (as well as the award teams I was due to work with) who have been overwhelmingly kind, caring, considerate and thoughtful. Thank you so much."

He further stated: "I'm now recovering at home, getting used to a cocktail of medication and a whole new diet, taking each day as it comes. I've still got a way to go, but I AM on the mend and slowly making progress, hoping to be back at work soon. BTW, the irony of the radio station I work for is not lost on me."

The NHS advises that the most effective ways to prevent a heart attack include maintaining a healthy diet with limited fats and salts, regular exercise, avoiding smoking, moderating alcohol consumption and managing blood pressure. However, it's crucial to remember that heart attacks can still occur, even if you lead a very healthy lifestyle.

If you suspect you're having a heart attack, you should immediately call the emergency services.