Daniel Green, now and in his youth. Pic: SWNS/Snapper

An 81-year-old British pensioner couldn't believe it when his doctors told him his resting heart-rate was so low he'd qualify to break a Guinness World Record.

An 81-year-old British pensioner couldn't believe it when his doctors told him his resting heart-rate was so low he'd qualify to break a Guinness World Record.

When Daniel Green's doctor first measured his heart rate, it was sitting at a very low 36 beats per minute (bpm), but then it dropped to 26bpm – slower than Tour De France cycling greats and roughly that of an elephant.

Green, from Surrey, is very fit, which doctors say contributed to his incredibly low heart rate.

"I go for hour-long walks every morning and do some light exercise with weights and a cross-trainer at least three times a week," he told the Express.

"They tell me an elephant has a heart rate of just 28 beats per minute, so I suppose I'm as healthy as an elephant, although I don't know too many personally."

Green's GP quickly ordered more tests to make sure his heart-rate wasn't slow due to a heart problem.

"I was put forward for the 24-hour scan after my GP was alarmed by a 15-second ECG (electrocardiogram) he gave me," he said.

"But there's nothing to worry about – I'm still in fine fettle."

Men have an average heart rate of 72bpm, but it usually varies between 60bpm and 100bpm depending how much activity they are doing.

The current Guinness World Record for the lowest resting heart beat is held by Martin Brady, 45, from Guernsey whose heart-rate measured 27bpm.

"I've contacted Guinness but at the moment I don't think I want to do it. Maybe one day, but it seems like a bit of a faff," Green said.

"Also, I'd be so excited my heart might start racing, which wouldn't be too good for the record attempt."

Green's fitness regimen began when he was 16 and did weights to bulk up. He started running in his 30s and has run three marathons.

"I keep fit because I enjoy it," he said.

"Under normal circumstances, a heart rate as low as mine would cause symptoms such as breathlessness, dizziness and fainting and it wouldn't be very good."

Professor Henry Krum, director of cardiovascular research at Monash University and the George Institute, told ninemsn that a low heart-rate is either a sign of great fitness or that something is wrong.

"Heart rate is turning out to be an important marker of heart health," he said.

"In general, the higher the heart rate, the less heart healthy you are and the lower the heart rate, the more heart healthy you are."

Associate Professor William Wang, a cardiologist from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Queensland, told ninemsn that you rarely see heart rates below 50 in people who aren't elite athletes.

"I have seen heart rates in the 30s previously, but not heard of 20s until now," he said.

"When you are super fit, the heart modifies to be more efficient to pump out more blood per heart beat."

Some patients with very low heart-rates require pacemakers.

"Because this is a physiological response to being fit, generally if the patient feels well and has no symptoms, and there is no evidence of damage to the organs from lack of blood flow, patients may not require pacemakers," Associate Professor Wang explained.

Author: Kimberly Gillan, Approving editor: Rory Kinsella