Former smoker tells of heart attack 'nightmare'

A former smoker who almost died from a heart attack says he does not want others to go through the same "living nightmare".

John Stephenson, from Stockton, Teesside, had three stents fitted two years ago, at the age of 48, having been told by doctors he may not survive the operation following a lifetime of smoking.

He has been chosen as the face of a health campaign in north-east England encouraging people to kick the habit ahead of No Smoking Day on Wednesday.

The campaign by Fresh, the North East's official tobacco control programme, will include a TV advert, as well as posters and social media posts with information on how to access local support.

Mr Stephenson was taken to hospital after suffering chest pains.

"When my wife and mam came in to see me [in hospital], the colour drained from them," he said. "It was like I was watching them being told I was already dead.

"All I could imagine was the impact it was going to have on my kids and my grandkids.

"Even if you smoke just one cigarette a day, you're raising your risk of going through the living nightmare that I did."

Mr Stephenson, who now works as Middlesbrough Council's Stop Smoking South Tees service manager, told the BBC his "life has totally changed".

"Previously, I couldn't keep up with my grandkids, my breathing was bad.

"At the time I didn't associate those issues with smoking, but since stopping I'm fitter, I go to the gym regularly and have lost weight."

Smoking rates in the region have more than halved in recent years, down from 29% - the highest in the country - to 11%, one of the lowest.

As well as increasing the risk of cancer, smoking doubles the risk of dying from heart disease or a stroke.

Fresh says more than 125,000 people in the region have died in the last 25 years from smoking-related diseases.

Director Ailsa Rutter is calling for a levy to be imposed on tobacco companies.

"Their products are going to kill two in three of their long-term smokers," she said. "They're making a billion pounds profit this year alone.

"Be bold as a country and as a government and end smoking. Tobacco companies should not be making obscene profits from killing our loved ones."

The Department of Health and Social Care said its Tobacco and Vapes Bill would include measures to "create a smoke-free generation, phasing out the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone aged 15 or younger, breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage".

Meanwhile, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said increasing taxation encouraged smugglers to meet the demand for cheap cigarettes.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.