James Packer is recovering following a serious cardiac episode.
On Thursday a representative for the billionaire confirmed that he had a heart scare in May, which led to him being hospitalised for two weeks.
The representative confirmed he was admitted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre and was under the care of top doctors during his time in hospital.
James is said to be focusing on his recovery and is currently resting at his private Argentina polo ranch La Ellerstina alongside his his ex-wife Erica and their three teenage children, Indigo, 17, Jackson, 15, and Emmanuelle, 13.
It has been reported that the 58-year-old businessman plans to remain in Argentina until December. The representative added that he has been walking more and dieting to lose weight.
James has a family history of heart disease, with his father, Kerry Packer known for surviving a massive heart attack in 1990 while playing polo at Warwick Farm Racecourse.
At the time, Kerry who was 53 had reportedly been receiving ongoing treatment at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital for a heart condition.
He survived with the help of medics from a passing ambulance administering cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived with a portable defibrillator, as they were not installed in ambulances at the time.
Kerry then made a $2.5 million donation to the NSW Ambulance Service, to install the devices in every ambulance, after calling NSW Premier Nick Greiner.
“I’ll make you a deal, I’m told it costs about $5 million to put one in every ambulance, I’ll go you halves,” Greiner later recalled Kerry saying.
This later resulted in the devices, also dubbed the “Packer Whacker”, being placed in ambulances.
James’ father passed away 15 years later after suffering kidney failure at the age of 68.
The billionaire’s grandmother, Gretel also battle heart disease which claimed her in 1960, while his great-grandfather Tasmanian-born journalist Robert Clyde Packer, died in 1934 of arteriosclerosis, a heart condition affecting the arteries.
The news comes after James Packer opened up about his other health battles last year.
In an interview with Channel 7, the billionaire revealed that he was battling depression and bipolar disorder, saying that he has to travel with a nurse who administers a number of medications for him.
“I couldn’t tell you what I’m on because I’m on a bunch of things and someone does it for me,” he said at the time.
Image: Channel 7
