Veteran councillor Adrian Crowther has thanked Islanders for their support while he was ill in hospital and said he has been “lucky”.

The 72-year-old was rushed to King’s College Hospital in London on Tuesday, August 6, after having a heart attack and a stroke.

He had been visiting his GP and started feeling unwell when an ambulance was called.

He was in hospital for more than three weeks and returned home to The Leas, Minster, at the end of last month.

Although he’s on the mend, he still has a number of blood tests coming up.

It is thought his heart attack was caused by a blocked artery and it was his heart stopping and the lack of oxygen which caused the stroke.

“I didn’t realise what had happened was as serious as it was,” he said.

“I was told that when I was in the ambulance my heart stopped and it was a case of resuscitating me and getting me to King’s.

“It was a shock to find that out. It seems for the following six days I was unconscious.

“When you are the patient you don’t see what other people see so it must have been a strain for other people concerned about me.”

Cllr Crowther says that he has no intention of stepping down from his council duties.

He has, however, been withdrawn from all committees for the time being.

He is being substituted at meetings and advised anyone who wants to raise any issues to contact Swale council or Kent County Council (KCC) directly.

“I’ve been very, very lucky,” he added.

“I would like to send my thanks to all the people that wished me well. It was kind of them and I’ve very grateful.

“People have been saying it’s good to see me and it’s very touching and emotional people are so concerned.”

Cllr Crowther represents Sheppey ward on KCC, Minster Cliffs on Swale council and is also a Minster parish councillor.

He was first elected as a Conservative representative for Swale council in 2000, but defected to UKIP earlier this year after the Tories’ decision to replace him as a candidate in the county elections.