Jon White, 50, was cycling a well-known route near his house in August 2023, when he felt a slight tightness in his chest.
As a keen cyclist, he had a device to monitor his distance and heart rate.
The readings showed an unusual slowing of his heart rate.
The father-of-one decided to head home and call his GP.
Mr White said: “When the ambulance arrived, they put the ECG leads on, looked at the readings, and just calmly said, ‘You’ve done the right thing, you’re having a heart attack.'”
“Strangely, when I heard that, I didn’t feel much shock.
“I just felt a sense of relief that I hadn’t overreacted.”
Mr White was taken to St George’s Hospital, where doctors inserted two stents into his coronary arteries to restore blood flow to his heart.
Despite the procedure’s success, the blockage caused permanent damage to his heart.
He now takes medication to help his heart function better.
After undergoing a cardiac rehabilitation programme at Croydon University Hospital, Mr White has returned to cycling to maintain his fitness.
However, he admits it was daunting to get back on the bike.
Mr White said: “My recovery took a lot longer than I expected.
“It’s been about the head as much as the heart because the mental side of things has been really up and down.
“I’ve tried to retain a positive outlook because I know I’ve been lucky, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve had.
“The cardiac rehab team in Purley have been a great source of support and practical help.”
He added: “I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments to how I cycle to ensure I’m not overdoing it.
“It’s very different from the carefree days when I just headed out for a big ride.
“I’m very conscious of what my family has been through, but I’m lucky that my wife and son have been brilliant.”
Participating in the London to Brighton bike ride, Mr White aims to give back to the BHF, share his story, and help people recognise the symptoms of a heart attack.
The BHF’s flagship fundraising event, in its 48th year, sees more than 14,000 cyclists ride the 54-mile route from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront, raising around £2 million for heart and circulatory condition research.
Lucy King, events manager at the BHF, said: “It’s good to hear that Jon is doing so well after his heart attack and that he’s able to pursue his passion for cycling.
“His story is an important reminder that it’s vital to call 999 if you ever experience symptoms that could be a heart attack.
“In Croydon, heart and circulatory disease cause 59 deaths each month.
“By taking part in this event, Jon will be helping to fund research to discover new ways of diagnosing and treating heart conditions, giving people the best chance of longer, healthier lives.”
