Gunner’s ‘freak’ heart attack caused by blood clot

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said his “minor heart scare” was actually a heart attack but he will be back at work on Monday

Chief Minister Michael Gunner with wife Kristy O'Brien. Mr Gunner has had it confirmed that he suffered a heart attack: Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

Michael Gunner’s “minor heart scare” was a heart attack.

The Chief Minister’s office initially sought to downplay the severity of the January 18 incident which put him in hospital for four days.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Gunner, 44, said his cardiologist on Tuesday told him he had experienced a heart attack while at home with wife Kristy O’Brien.

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“Kristy and I were at home, we took my sudden chest pain seriously and we got straight into a car and sought medical attention. And thank God we did,” he wrote.

“It came from nowhere, there were no warning signs, and I don’t have any of the factors that would put me at risk of a heart issue.

Thank you all for your support. It’s now been a touch over a week since my heart scare. I’ll be back at work Monday, and...

Posted by Michael Gunner on Tuesday, 28 January 2020

“Doctors believe it was likely caused by a blood clot. A freak thing that could have happened to anyone, and this time it happened to me.

“As a precaution, doctors are going to do corrective surgery to plug a tiny hole in my heart so there is no risk of a future problem.

“A lot of people have these tiny holes and there is no issue – but I’m just making extra sure that it can’t happen again.”

Mr Gunner wrote he would be back at work on Monday.