Bradford Bulls heart attack victim Adrian Purtell said “he would be forever in debt” to the cardiologist who treated him, when he was reunited with him today for the first time since his collapse a year ago.

The 28-year-old Australian Bulls centre met the cardiologist during a visit to the children’s heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary Hospital.

Mr Purtell suffered a heart attack at the 2012 “Magic Weekend” event at Manchester’s Ethiad Stadium.

He made the visit today as he has become an ambassador for Yorkshire-based national charity Heart Research UK where he has been encouraging people to live healthier lifestyles and fundraise to support more research into heart disease.

After his visit he said he felt “humbled and saddened” to see the young children and babies on the ward.