Bradford Bulls heart attack victim Adrian Purtell said “he would be forever in debt” to the cardiologist who treated him after being reunited with him yesterday one year on from his collapse.

The 28-year-old Australian Bulls centre marked the first anniversary of his heart attack by meeting with one of his cardiologists during a visit to the children’s heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

Mr Purtell suffered a heart attack after the 2012 ‘Magic Weekend’ game at Manchester’s Ethiad Stadium against Leeds Rhinos, but has made a full recovery and is back playing in Super League.

He has also become an ambassador for Yorkshire-based national charity Heart Research UK and is keen to pass on the message about living heart-healthy lives. Reflecting on his visit to the hospital he said he felt sad to see the young children and babies on the ward going through treatment for heart conditions.

He said: “It was very humbling seeing children and babies in hospital, it just really brings it home how grateful I am to be healthy again. It makes you realise how lucky you are. Meeting my cardiologist for the first time since the day after my treatment was a special moment. I owe a lot to him.

“I am very grateful for the good job he did for me and all the other staff involved. I just can’t thank him enough and will be forever in his debt.”

Mr Purtell has been back in a Bulls shirt since March and has played in ten games and said he is feeling in good health again.

He said: “I probably took my heart for granted back then. So I am backing charities like this that promote healthy living “I feel close to normal now. I’ve really gone from not knowing whether I was still going to be alive, through to doubts about whether I was going to play again, and finally to being given the all-clear to resume my career. That is certainly an extreme set of emotions.

“The support I have had on the way from the fans, players and my family has been tremendous and it was my own drive and determination as well as harnessing that wonderful support that has carried me through.”

Barbara Harpham, national director of Heart Research UK said: “Adrian is a wonderful role model for us all. Even though he is a top sportsman, he has made changes to his lifestyle to keep his heart healthy.”