Fifth-generation farmer David Officer was getting rid of floodwater, and moving cattle on his farm more than 100 kilometres west of Goondiwindi, when he felt "massive pain" in his chest.
It felt like his arm was on fire.
"I don't think I fainted but I ended up on the ground, which was fairly scary," Mr Officer said.
After an hour or so, he came "half-good" and was able to get himself "back to civilisation", admitting himself into Goondiwindi hospital for an overnight stay.
Mr Officer was referred to Heart of Australia, a mobile specialist service that delivers healthcare from its Heart Trucks in rural and remote Queensland.
He had an appointment days later and was advised to seek further treatment in Brisbane at Queensland Cardiology.
"I was there the following Tuesday, which is phenomenal for someone who lives at Goondiwindi," Mr Officer said.
"At this stage, after all the tests I've done, nobody seems to know too much. They said it was maybe a very, very slight heart attack, or a very slight stroke, or something like that.
"Virtually now it's about medication and monitoring it.
"I had very high blood pressure, which they seemed to get under control. That's the extent of it at this stage anyway."
Mr Officer is among Queenslanders who are reliving their close calls with heart problems to urge others to get check-ups.
Regional service driven by need
Mr Officer had never had any heart problems or a heart check-up but has been helping his father Robert, 82, deal with heart problems for many years.
When his mother retired and moved from the farm to Goondiwindi, Mr Officer said his father was "that obstinate elderly bushman type" and refused to move, saying: "I don't have any interest in golf or bowls, so I'm staying".
Mr Officer has taken his father, who has a family history of heart problems, to numerous different cardiologists and GPs, but he says the most help has come from the Heart Trucks service.
"Professor Darren Walters, he came on the Heart of Australia bus and virtually said, 'We need to get your father to Brisbane to Queensland Cardiology,'" he said.
"They got him down to Brisbane. He spent about three-and-a-half months between Queensland Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital [and] St Vincent's rehab hospital.
"They put a clip on one of his valves, which has really improved his … quality of life, and his GP said he wouldn't be here unless he had that procedure."
Check-up 'probably' saved Carol's life
Three years ago Carol, then 73, went to her GP for a regular check-up and blood tests.
Days later, Carol said her doctor rang to tell her to book an ambulance and go to hospital.
Soon after she had triple-bypass surgery.
Carol said she did not have any symptoms. She wants to remind people to get regular check-ups "no matter how healthy you feel".
Symptoms can differ
Heart of Australia founder Rolf Gomes said Carol's circumstances highlighted that the symptoms of heart disease can often be masked in women, or different to those experienced by men.
He said the symptoms for women may not be as obvious as chest pain or pain in your jaw, elbow or between shoulder blades.
"Sometimes you hear the story, 'Oh, I just feel unusually tired. Maybe it's because I'm working too hard, not getting enough sleep, and a little bit breathless, but I've put on a few kilos. Maybe I'm just getting older and a bit more unfit," Dr Gomes said.
"To Carol's credit, to get a doctor to give her a full check-up and having that regular contact with her GP, has probably saved her life."
Dr Gomes said if people think something is wrong with their health "the best thing" they can do is talk to their GP, and if nothing seems wrong, have regular check-ups.
"You take your car in to get a service once a year. You really should look after yourself."
Farmers often too stubborn
Mr Officer acknowledged it was difficult for GPs to encourage farmers to go anywhere for treatment and experienced his father's reluctance to see out-of-area medical specialists.
"Whenever there was any mention of going further afield than Toowoomba, he [Robert Officer] used to get the flu and not be able to go," he said.
"He used to put his foot down and say he'd go back to the doctor in Goondiwindi."
Mr Officer said more funding was needed for initiatives that delivered in-area specialist care for rural and remote Australians, like the Heart Trucks.
"It's an absolute credit to Rolf Gomes and Darren Walters and it's life-saving," he said.
"I think they're absolutely magnificent, absolutely magnificent people. I find it incredible that someone like those two fellas are able to take the time out to do it."
