Heart Radio’s Simon Beale, 53, left ‘grateful to be alive’ after suffering major heart attack and being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

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Simon Beale from Heart Radio says he’s thankful to still be alive after experiencing a serious heart attack that required immediate surgery in the hospital.

The 53-year-old radio host, who presents the Heart 80s Breakfast show on Global, revealed the news in a heartfelt Instagram post. He had collapsed while walking his dog three weeks prior.

Simon was deeply shocked by the experience, especially since he leads a healthy lifestyle – he eats well, exercises regularly, and has never smoked.

He shared a photo of himself in the ICU, connected to a heart monitor, and explained that three weeks ago, he had a major heart attack while walking his dog. He said life can be full of unexpected events.

I kept telling myself it couldn’t be a heart attack, even as it was happening. I’m 53, I’ve never smoked, I walk around 15,000 steps daily, and I generally eat pretty healthily. But the crushing pain in my chest was undeniable, so I had to call 999.

Doctors quickly inserted two stents to open a completely blocked artery in his heart. He described how his Monday had started normally – with work, shopping, and a dog walk – but rapidly changed when he needed emergency medical attention, life-saving surgery, and a long period of recovery while connected to many monitors.

Simon, a long-time host on Heart radio, was recently in the hospital for eight nights but has now returned home.

He praised the NHS care he received, calling it ‘phenomenal.’ He wrote about how thankful he was for the doctors, nurses, consultants, specialists, and all the hospital staff who cared for him during his eight-night stay, saying they saved his life and were true heroes.

Simon also thanked his family and colleagues at Heart and Global. He especially appreciated his family for immediately being there for him, and his friends for their constant support and practical help.

I’m so grateful for the incredible support from my colleagues at Heart & Global, and the teams I was looking forward to collaborating with. Their kindness, care, and thoughtfulness meant the world to me. Thank you all so much.

Simon is now home and adapting to a new routine after his illness. He’s focusing on recovery, which includes adjusting to medication and a different diet, and is taking things one day at a time.

I’m definitely getting better, though I still have some recovery ahead of me. I’m hoping to return to work before too long. It’s funny, though – considering what I do, the situation feels a little ironic.

His post was flooded with supportive messages from fellow broadcasters and friends.

Jamie Theakston, hosting Heart Breakfast, playfully suggested Simon was connected to the station’s broadcasting system. Fellow presenter Jenni Falconer sent Simon a message wishing him well, asking him to rest and saying they all looked forward to his return, signing it with ‘Big love, Simon’.

Matt Goss, a singer and broadcaster, sent well wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery, saying, ‘Sending you so much love and healing, mate.’ Emma Barnett, host of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, also expressed her support, saying, ‘Gosh really hope you heal really well.’

Broadcaster Nicki Chapman said: ‘Oh Simon! Take care & glad you are on the mend’.

Simon is a well-known and respected DJ on British radio. He’s been with Heart London since 2002, becoming a familiar voice to listeners for over 20 years. He’s popular for his friendly and professional on-air personality, and his vast knowledge of pop music.

Before joining Heart, he presented programs on several stations including Invicta FM, Kiss, Virgin Radio, LBC, and BBC Radio 5 Live. He’s also a well-known voiceover artist with a successful career in that field.

You’ve likely heard his unique voice at big events like concerts, on TV commercials, and during awards shows.

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2025-10-21 00:16