'I broke down' - Hutchinson on heart attack diagnosis

Sam Hutchinson suffered a heart attack in the sixth minute of Wimbledon's win over Grimsby

AFC Wimbledon defender Sam Hutchinson said he "broke down" when he learned he had suffered a heart attack in a game in which he went on to play the full 90 minutes and score the winning goal.

Last week the Dons informed fans that Hutchinson, 35, had undergone successful surgery after experiencing "heart complications" during their 1-0 win at Grimsby on 3 May.

The former Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday player said the heart attack took place in the sixth minute of the game, with his winning goal in the 52nd minute securing a spot in the League Two play-offs.

"I felt rubbish during the game for some reason," Hutchinson said after the game, before the diagnosis.

"I had a tight chest and wanted to come off after six minutes but I just battled on through like an old warhorse."

As Hutchinson continued to experience issues on their return home, the team bus was forced to take a detour via a hospital.

"We got back on the coach afterwards and I started to get more chest pains as the adrenaline wore off," he told the club website.

"We ended up stopping in Nottingham (hospital) on our way back and they essentially told me I'd had a heart attack.

"I was in there for five days; I was like a pin cushion by the end of it, after getting lots of tests done. A branch of an artery was blocked 75%.

"I had an angiogram and had a stent put in by a specialist in London who was unbelievable. I'm on the road to recovery now."

Hutchinson joined the Dons back in December, and has since played 18 games across all competitions.

When the bad news was delivered, Hutchinson said his initial fear was he may not be able to play the game anymore.

"When they told me I'd had a heart attack, I broke down," he added.

"Only because I wanted to still play football, I didn't want that to be the end and I didn't really care that I'd had a heart attack.

"I just wanted to still play and thankfully the specialist told me that I'd have no problems playing football again.

"The one thing that the professor - who had looked after both Tom Lockyer and Christian Eriksen – said was my situation was nothing like theirs. It was a blockage and it was all fixed, there was no need for a defibrillator to be fitted.

"I just now see it as another injury, another hurdle to overcome."

'Devastated' at missing play-off final

Hutchinson's goal secured the Dons victory and a fifth-placed finish on the final day of the regular League Two season.

They have subsequently beaten Notts County over two legs to book their place at Wembley for Monday's League Two play-off final against Walsall, who finished fourth.

"Now it's all about the team and doing the business on Monday," Hutchinson said.

"I'm absolutely devastated that I can't play but I'm there to support the boys and fingers crossed we can get it over the line and do what everyone wants us to do.

"I genuinely think I could play, obviously it would be dangerous but that's just my opinion. I'm never going to but I'd love to."

Before signing for Wimbledon, Hutchinson most recently played for Reading, who he left last summer and was without a club for the start of the campaign.

But after signing a one-month deal with the Dons in December, he agreed in January to stay until the end of the season.

"I'd love to sign here again and play next season, I can't wait to be back," Hutchinson added.

"From playing 20-odd games here to then seeing the support from the fans and from everyone is incredible.

"As long as my recovery goes well then I'll be fine. I feel really good to be honest and I'm going to crack on and make sure I come back bigger and stronger."