Southland District Mayor Gary Tong had more reason than ever to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, after surviving a massive heart attack just prior to Christmas.

Mr Tong said he had been feeling generally tired and run down as the year came to an end and was looking forward to the Christmas break, when he was struck down with what he initially believed to be a vicious "tummy bug" on December 18.

The "bug" caused extreme vomiting and diarrhoea and left him "a bit sore" in the abdomen and diaphragm area, which he put down to muscular strain from the persistent vomiting. After resting up, he was back on his feet for Christmas Day but still feeling generally unwell and extremely tired. On December 27, he was due to head off on holiday but decided to first check in with his GP to try and get on top of the bug that had not subsided.

After explaining all of his symptoms, his doctor elected to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG). The results shocked everyone.

"They just came out and said 'you're not going [on holiday] anywhere and we're getting you to Dunedin immediately."

I said 'you're kidding'. They said 'no, you've had a massive heart attack'."

He was taken by ambulance to Southland Hospital but never entered the building, and instead was transferred immediately to a helicopter.

Mr Tong said it was at that point the gravity of his condition finally hit home. His grandson got into the ambulance with him as they awaited the helicopter's arrival and the thought crossed his mind "will I ever see you again?".

"It gave me more of a fright than I ever dreamed of."

Medics monitored his heart throughout the helicopter flight and could not believe he was not in severe pain.

"I said 'no pain, I'm wondering why I'm with you [requiring a helicopter transfer]. They said: 'we know why you're with us – you're a bloody time bomb'."

From the doctor's surgery in Invercargill at 11.45am, he was in the care of the Dunedin cardiac team by 3pm. But he was still not out of danger. Tests showed he had suffered severe damage to his heart but varicose veins surgery carried out when he was 35 meant he was ineligible for bypass surgery. However, thanks to a "very good cardiologist", three and-a-half hours and five stents later he was wheeled into the recovery room.

"I just went back to the ward and thanked my lucky stars," Mr Tong said.

"It was a big job, and a very, very good job. I've been given a lease of life and I will be doing everything I'm told to do."

He was full of praise for every level of support he got from emergency services and healthcare professionals from diagnosis to discharge.

"I am in awe of the whole team," he said.

Now home and feeling "better than I have in months", he said if there was one message he could share from his experience, it was to encourage people – regardless of age – to seek medical advice if they felt unwell for any period of time.

"We've got some great people in our health services – use them if you're crook."

Southland District Mayor Gary Tong pictured in the helicopter just prior to being airlifted to Dunedin Hospital on December 27.