Mr Fletcher, 52, was one of the first heart attack patients in the Hume region to receive a life-saving drug outside of a hospital.

This week marks a year since Ambulance Victoria introduced pre-hospital thrombolysis (PHT) treatment in rural Victoria.

The treatment has saved 32 lives — 12 in the Hume area.

“I would not be here without this early treatment,” Mr Fletcher said yesterday.

“The paramedics sav- ed my life and calmed me right down.

“They reassured me, were professional and had a good sense of humour.”

In an interesting twist, Mr Philpotts is Mr Fletcher’s brother-in-law.

“We arrived and my sister Rikki said she thought he was having a heart attack,” Mr Philpotts said.

“I tried to calm them down and went through the usual procedures.”

Mr Fletcher said there was no good time to experience a heart attack, but it had happened two weeks before the second Beechworth Music Festival.

“It was a big scare and certainly put things into perspective for me,” he said.

Mr Jarvie, who administered the treatment, said the drug worked by slowing down the cardiac tissue damage patient’s suffer.

“It’s great to have access to this drug,” he said.

“It can only be administered within hours of heart-attack symptoms, which makes it difficult for people in rural areas because they are so far away from hospitals.”

Mr Fletcher was taken by ambulance to Wangaratta Hospital and later flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he had two stents inserted.

The self-employed painter and decorator admitted he had ignored several symptoms in the days leading up to the heart attack and had a message for others.

“Look after your health, it really is a cliche, but it’s so true because I ignored it,” Mr Fletcher said.

Five months later, Mr Fletcher is eating healthier than ever and has given up cigarettes.