EX-WANDERERS defender Nicky Hunt has revealed how a heart scare left him feeling “lucky to be alive.”

The former England Under-21 international, now at Accrington Stanley, checked into Bolton’s Beaumont Hospital after feeling unwell following an away game at Stevenage on October 18.

And though tests cleared the Daisy Hill born defender of any major problems – doctors diagnosing “palpitations” – he admits the experience did make his sit up and take notice.

“It opens your eyes to lots of things, family and obviously football, it makes you think that you’re a lucky person, not just to play football but to be alive,” he said.

“Straight after it [the game] in the changing room I didn’t feel right and on the way home, I didn’t feel right.

“Those two days were the longest two days of my life because no-one tells you anything.

“I was sat in different rooms, getting passed from pillar to post, swab tests and blood samples.

“It was two days of being in hospitals, waiting about and getting tested.”

Hunt made 161 appearances for Wanderers, primarily under Sam Allardyce, between 2001 and 2010.

He has been a regular in the Stanley side this season in League Two and admits he does not know whether the same problem could strike again.

“It was a scary time for me personally but they just said it was an irregular heartbeat, palpitations,” he explained.

“They said it’s common in athletes and it’s just one of those things.

“You’ll either never have it again or if it does happen again then you’ve got to take it very seriously, but touch wood I’ll be fine for now.”

“There are no precautions you can take.

“But I’m training every day and my body has been doing that for however many years.

“It was just one of those freak things that he said athletes go through sometimes in their lives.”