He was on holiday in Greece with his wife and two young children when he became "really breathless" while climbing the stairs at a waterslide park.

Back home, his fatigue and breathlessness worsened and he ended up in A&E at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

Scans showed that he had an enlarged heart. Further tests, including wearing a 24-hour heart monitor, resulted in a diagnosis of heart failure - the organ was performing at only 10pc of its normal function.

The James Paget Hospital in Gorleston. (Image: JPUH)

Treatment involved various drugs and an operation to fit a cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D), a device that can provide electrical shocks to the heart if it develops potentially dangerous rhythms.

As a result, Mr Bexfield’s condition stabilized temporarily for more than a year - but then in 2024, he began to feel unwell again and was re-admitted to the Paget’s Acute Cardiac Unit, while also being under the guidance of the Royal Papworth Hospital, a world-leading heart and lung hospital in Cambridge.

Further tests revealed that he was suffering from a rare genetic condition called Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, which can cause heart failure.

Complications resulted in him being put on the heart transplant list and being admitted to Papworth where he underwent the operation in August last year.

The surgery was a success, and after four days in critical care and a further three weeks on a ward, he was discharged home.

Free heart health checks are taking place at Market Gates shopping centre in Great Yarmouth on March 19. (Image: Newsquest)

Six months on, Mr Bexfield is recovering well and is able to exercise lightly.

And now, he is keen to encourage others who may be worried about their heart health - or have a family history of heart issues - to take advantage of the free checks taking place later this month.

The free heart health screenings event will take place between 10am and 3pm on Thursday, March 19, at Market Gates Shopping Centre in Great Yarmouth. No appointment is necessary – just turn up.

© Eastern Daily Press