Now he wants more defibrillators in the community and increased awareness about heart health.

Mr Hayward, a director at Port Macquarie Golf Club and former general manager at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, was on the ninth green at Port Macquarie Golf Course on February 4 when he had a cardiac arrest.

“My eyes went strange and it was like a curtain coming down,” Mr Hayward said.

Quick-thinking onlookers stepped in.

One of his playing partners, Warren Bowley, started chest compressions. Dean Hepburn continued CPR and kept a sense of calm.

“It was a team effort,” Mr Hepburn said.

Duty manager Tim Harris applied a defibrillator.

Mr Harris said that was the second time he had used a defibrillator.

Ken Wilson, Bob Graham, Ron Lavender and Mickela Hines were also invaluable during the medical emergency.

Paramedics continued the work of initial responders and transported Mr Hayward to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

He had an angiogram and was later airlifted to Prince of Wales Hospital for bypass surgery.

Mr Hayward is keen to raise awareness about heart health and the impact of diabetes.

He encouraged people to consider their family medical history and get a check, if necessary.

Mr Hayward said more defibrillators in public places should be one of the top five priorities in the community.

“That will give everybody a chance, like I had, to survive,” Mr Hayward said about more defibrillators.

The golf club is considering the addition of defibrillators around the course.

The club is also looking at first aid-related training and member education on steps to take in an emergency.

Mr Hayward supports the Charles Sturt University’s Student Heart Project which raises money for defibrillators in the community.

The Student Heart Project’s Daniel Steinbeck praised Port Macquarie Golf Club for having two defibrillators or AEDs.

“Tony's experience gives context to the entire [Student Heart] project,” Mr Steinbeck said.

“Public access to AEDs and training in their use is so important.

“It's the entire reason the Student Heart Project was founded, on the premise that access to these life saving devices would indeed save lives when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest.”

The student-led project has staged fundraisers, hosted training sessions, raised more than $25,000 and placed eight defibrillators in the community.

Tickets go on sale soon for the September 8 Red and Blue fundraising ball at Panthers Port Macquarie.