The popular presenter came close to losing his life on the morning of Saturday, February 9, after experiencing intense pain in his jaw which spread to his chest.

Fifteen minutes later he was in the coronary care unit of Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital.

But dying was the last thing on his mind.

“My main concern was missing Coleraine’s Irish cup match against Brantwood Belfast at 3pm that day,” he said.

Mr Simpson, who is in his 40s, was alone at his Portrush home when he became unwell.

“The heart attack came totally out of the blue. There were no warning signs whatsoever,” he said.

“The pain in the jaw was the worst. It felt like a very bad toothache where the pain goes down into your chest. I also felt pain in my arm.”

Mr Simpson, who’s now out of hospital, said he might not have been quite so “lucky” if he hadn’t reached hospital as soon as he had.

“The ambulance was here in five minutes (at around 10.05am) and I was in hospital in 15 minutes. I was treated and taken to the coronary care unit at the Causeway,” he said.

“A couple of a days later I was transferred (to the Royal Victoria in Belfast) for the operation.”

Mr Simpson, whose father also experienced heart problems, underwent a two-and-a-half hour operation general anaesthetic at the Royal Victoria where a stent (a tube used for inserting in a blocked vessel) was positioned into one of his coronary arteries to determine the damage. He was awake throughout.

“I would describe the operation as very surreal. There were eight or nine people working inside my body and there were big plasma-type screens around me. I watched the operation in detail,” he said.

“It looked like a cross between a sci-fi and a David Attenborough nature programme. It beats daytime TV’s Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic programmes any day of the week.

“Although it was incredible to watch I wouldn’t recommend it.”

The former manager of Kelly’s nightclub in Portrush said he is feeling a lot better than he was, and with the help of daily exercise is gradually building up his strength again.

“The good fresh air of the north coast is definitely helping the recovery process,” he said.

He said he would be returning to the Royal to get the stent checked to ensure it is working and that it has repaired the damage caused.

His recovery has been greatly helped by the hundreds of get-well messages he has received.

He thanked his partner Clare, her mother Aggie, his mother Jean, relatives, friends and the “family” of staff at the BBC – and his cat Boggin – for their love and support.

He said Jackie Fullerton at the BBC had been particularly supportive, having gone through similar surgery.

“I would also like to thank the huge amount of people who have sent me get-well cards, flowers and emails. I have honestly been bowled over.