A runner who survived three heart attacks in front of his family has joined a campaign to face his fears.

Cem Hilmi, 44, from Palmers Green, is becoming the face of the British Heart Foundation’s Face a Fear challenge to fund research into heart and circulatory disease.

Mr Hilmi was 36 and training for the Great North Run and London Triathlon in 2011 when he suffered a heart attack in front of his wife and daughter while washing the dishes.

He said: “It didn’t hit me about what had happened whilst I was in the hospital.

“I just wanted to get out of there and be able to do things for myself.

“I think I was in denial that I’d had a heart attack, it just felt like a bad dream.”

Mr Hilmi spoke about the experience of the attack psychologically, how he felt isolated and fearful for his family once he had recovered.

He said: “It was when I was discharged that it hit me. - I felt alone, I was depressed, emotional and scared as well.

“When falling asleep I would fear that I would have a heart attack in my sleep and my wife would find me dead.

“I was so tearful all the time, it was really out of character.”

Mr Hilmi was saved when a stent was fitted to keep his artery open and improve blood flow in his heart.

Afterwards his wife Rosa spoke to a nurse who referred him to a cardiac rehabilitation programme which he said pulled him back on his feet and back to health.

Six months to the day since his heart attack, he ran the Great North Run and achieved a personal best.

He added: “Without the cardiac rehabilitation I don’t know where I would be today.

“We believe I had three heart attacks in total but we’re still not sure why this happened, I was fit and healthy and had low cholesterol.”

Mr Hilmi is supporting the British Heart Foundation’s Face a Fear challenge, asking the people in the capital to be ‘fearless’ in their support of the charity.

He added: “I’ve been fundraising for the British Heart Foundation ever since, because I want to turn this experience into a positive one.

“In fact, I’m taking part in the BHF’s London to Brighton Bike Ride this weekend, which will be my fifth since I had my heart attack.

“I’m proud to be supporting their Face a Fear campaign this year and encouraging others to sign up to face what they’re scared of and fundraise towards their incredible and lifesaving research.”