Will you recognise your heart attack? Heart attack warning signs aren't what you think. Symptoms vary and they may not always be severe. Learn the warning signs at http://www.heartattackfacts.org.au because the sooner you recognise your heart attack and get treatment, the better. Courtesy: Heart Foundation Australia

Will you recognise your heart attack? Heart attack warning signs aren't what you think. Symptoms vary and they may not always be severe. Learn the warning signs at http://www.heartattackfacts.org.au because the sooner you recognise your heart attack and get treatment, the better. Courtesy: Heart Foundation Australia

A COUPLE who had sex in the Nevada desert ended up paying $300,000 for the privilege.

Things got steamy when British travellers Peter Cousins and Dawn Reed stripped off and jumped into a hot spring, 100 kilometres from the nearest phone signal.

But 55-year-old Mr Cousins started having a heart attack, and Ms Reed was forced to run 5km for help, SWNS reported.

She flagged down a truck driver who was able to call an air ambulance on his satellite phone.

Mr Cousins was flown to hospital and had a lifesaving stent placed in his heart — but after five days of treatment, he was handed a $300,000 bill.

Worse still, he had to return home to Dorset for more treatment, which spelled the end of his relationship with Ms Reed, who stayed on the cowboy ranch where they were working as chefs.

But despite the disastrous end to their sizzling encounter, Mr Cousins said it was worth it.

“It was the most expensive sex ever,” he told SWNS. “I haven’t been able to pay it off and although it’s always at the back of my mind, I have no regrets.

“I will never be able to forget that I owe so much money, but it was worth it for the sex. It’s always worth it.”

Mr Cousins, an artist, had no travel insurance, so he was slapped with a full bill by the Reno hospital. Months later, he is still trying to get the debt wiped.

“If the hospital decide I do have to pay back the full amount, I’ll never be able to go to America again,” he said. “That will hurt.”

The partners of two years were living in Portugal when they set out on a round-the-world trip in April 2013. After a few months, they took jobs at a Nevada cowboy ranch.

“Dawn and I took a walk around and discovered these beautiful natural hot springs all over the place,” said Mr Cousins. “One day we thought it would be romantic to make love in the pool.

“When I got up there were pains in my left arm and I just collapsed.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it, we were in the middle of nowhere. It was astounding how remote it was. There was no internet or cellular signal for miles and the nearest town was more than three hours drive away.”

He is not the first tourist to be slapped with a huge medical bill. Australian John Elliott was left with a $70,000 medical bill after a scooter crash in Bali in August.

And British couple Katie Amos and Lee Johnston were hit with a $240,000 bill earlier this month after their baby arrived early when they were holidaying in New York.