Invercargill City Mayor Nobby Clark is back home and recovering after having double bypass heart surgery last week.

Mayor Clark suffered a minor heart attack on the afternoon of Wednesday 27 December and subsequently underwent double bypass surgery on Wednesday 3 January at Dunedin Hospital. Mayor Clark was originally scheduled to have a quadruple bypass but only required a double bypass.

Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell said it was a great result to have Mayor Clark back home in Invercargill and resting with his family.

“It definitely wasn’t the start to the year we were expecting but I am pleased Nobby is on the mend and focusing on his health.

“I look forward to having him back around the table with us once he is fully recovered.”

Mayor Clark’s recovery was likely to take a couple of months and Cr Campbell would take the reins at Council until such time the Mayor is ready and able to return, he said.

Mayor Clark said he was pleased to be home.

“I have a deep appreciation of the outstanding work done by the clinicians and nurses in the cardiac wards. I feel blessed to have caught this heart attack early before it did any serious damage.

“A special thank you to the ED staff at Southland Hospital who picked up so quickly that I had experienced a heart attack.

“My partner Karen is making sure I don’t overdo things in my hurry to recover, but I know the city is in safe hands with Tom at the helm.”

Council is set to reconvene for the year on Tuesday 23 January with a Community Wellbeing Committee meeting.