A village cricketer continued batting despite a heart attack because he stood to score his first half-century of the season, British media reported on Friday.

Unfortunately, Jim Young was still on 48 when he ran out of partners.

An ambulance then took him to hospital in Harlow, Essex, and later to a specialist unit at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, where he had surgery, The Daily Telegraph said.

Now back home in Westmill, Hertfordshire, the 57-year-old Young admitted: "I think I was a bit of an idiot really. I should have stopped straight away because it could have finished me off there and then."

Young, who is an electrician by profession, was playing for his village against Bishop's Stortford side on August 5 when he felt crushing pain in the chest.

He was on 32, when he dropped to his knees and announced that he suspected he was having an angina attack.

"The old runs were a little bit lacking and I have been struggling to perform this season," he said.

"But I was having a good game and found it too easy. I was getting sixes and fours and was feeling really good about my game.

"Then I got this pain down the centre of my chest. At the time, it seemed the right thing to carry on. I knew I was close to my first 50 of the season, so I suppose that motivated me.

"But one of the guys noticed I was struggling and told me to retire because it was not worth it and I came off. I retired at 44 runs.

"A couple of the guys who went on after me did not last long, so I went back in to bat, but this time I had a runner."

Young finished unbeaten on 48.

Doctors allowed Young to return home after 10 days with strict instructions not to play any more cricket this season.