Paul Mercurio reveals shocking toll election campaign took on his health

Strictly Ballroom actor and newly elected Labor MP Paul Mercurio has revealed he’s had a heart scare which landed him in hospital.

He was discharged yesterday after having an ablation procedure.

The 59-year-old has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rhythm, and says campaigning during the election took its toll.

Press PLAY below to hear Paul Mercurio telling Tony Jones what happened

“I think possibly with all the stress and all the pounding of the pavements for elections and things, I might have burnt myself out a little bit. I had about four attacks during the campaign,” he told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“In that is a good reminder that yes, we need to work hard and when you’re passionate about something and you believe something you put everything into it, but there’s no point putting everything into it so at the end of the day there’s actually nothing left and you drop dead.”

Image: Ian Waldie/Getty Images