A Halesowen man who suffered a heart attack is to take part in a five-mile charity run.

Rob Hawthorne, aged 31, will join best friend 33-year-old Jim Semple in the run for the Action Heart rehabilitation group on February 26.

Two years ago Mr Hawthorne, a sales director for his family's polythene business, woke up with chest pains and his wife called an ambulance.

Paramedics believed it was a panic attack but took him to hospital for a check-up. On the observation table Mr Hawthorne suffered a huge heart attack.

Mr Hawthorne, who lives in County Park Avenue in Hale-sowen with his 35-year-old wife Julie and daughters Lauren, aged five, and 11-month-old Lily, was taken to the new heart and lung department at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital.

Three of his arteries were blocked because of a genetic condition, which increased his blood cholesterol.

The heart attack was a shock to Mr Hawthorne - he did not smoke, drank in moderation and played golf off a four handicap.

"Apart from a family history of high blood cholesterol, which led me to experience shortness of breath and feeling unwell, I did not think anything major was wrong," he said.

"I remember being on the hospital table and seemed absolutely fine. Then I went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious."

As part of his recovery Mr Hawthorne was told to attend the Action Heart facility at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, where he exercised in the gym and spoke to dieticians.

Last year his best friend Mr Semple, a sales consultant for a health and racket club, took part in the same five-mile charity run and raised £550 for Action Heart.

Mr Semple, who launched the Rob Hawthorne Fund last year, said: "Rob will be running and walking the challenging course, a remarkable achievement considering his heart surgery just 18 months ago.

"No matter how small, we appeal to everyone to make a donation to this cause as it really does make a difference to many people who require treatment for heart disease."

* To make a donation, call Jim Semple on 07920 025177 or email jim@rhahf.co.uk