LIAM Millard has always lived life to the full.
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"I always try to seize the day, as all my friends would know," Mr Millard said.
That's why when he suffered a heart attack at age 18, he focused only on recovering - not the grim prognosis from doctors.
Now, 11 years later, the former Warrnambool man is fighting fit and loving life.
Mr Millard, 29, was given a one in 100 chance of survival after suffering heart failure.
"I don't remember it but it happened on a Sunday afternoon," he said.
"I played football on the Saturday and had a recovery session on the Sunday morning. I was sitting at home with my best mate when it happened."
Mr Millard said there were no warning signs in the lead up to the heart attack.
Paramedics revived him with a defibrillator en route to the Tweed Heads Hospital in Queensland.
He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.
Mr Millard said he was disappointed he could no longer play football, which was a huge passion of his, but he now enjoys playing cricket, mixed netball and tennis.
I had to learn to walk and talk again. Considering the initial diagnosis I think I've been pretty lucky.
- Liam Millard
He works in the disability sector and loves travelling.
Mr Millard said he was extremely grateful to his parents Gary and Suzy, who live in Warrnambool, for supporting him during his recovery.
"I had to learn to walk and talk again," he said.
Mr Millard said he only suffered limited side affects, such as shortness of breath.
"Considering the initial diagnosis I think I've been pretty lucky," he said.
Mr Millard said it was important people regularly saw their doctor.
He said hindsight was a wonderful thing and he believed the dizzy spells he regularly suffered as a child may have been a precursor to the heart attack.
"Instead of waiting for something to happen, go and have a check-up," he said.
"An annual check-up would be something I recommend."
Mr Millard said he had discovered heart failure was more common than he realised since his own scare.
He loves travelling the world with his partner and has been to a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and South East Asia.
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