Scotland legend Graeme Souness has revealed he was rushed to hospital to undergo an emergency operation last week.
The former Rangers and Liverpool star said he was hoping to take part in a charity bike ride when he suddenly felt chest pains. The TV pundit, 71, told the BBC he was making a cup of tea while watching football when the drama struck.
He said: “We had a bit of a setback last week. I had a bit of an episode 10 days ago, where I was watching England play Finland, got up at half 10 to make a cup of tea, and felt chest pains. Without dwelling on it three days later, I had a couple of stents put into one of my coronary arteries. I feel great. I’ve got a great cardiologist called Talwar down in Bournemouth. And he’s looked after me for 15 years and I’m in great hands.”
Souness has a history of heart trouble – he was diagnosed with coronary heart disease at 38 and had a triple bypass. Ten years later, he had a stent fitted as another one of my arteries had become blocked. Then in November 2015, he was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack at home.
He had been intending to take part in an event for DEBRA, the butterfly skin charity which included a cross channel swim and cycle from the channel to Westminster, but had suffered with a bad shoulder, needing an operation in January. He was planning to do the cycle part of the challenge last week when the chest pains hit.
He got involved in the charity after being touched by the plight and pain of Scots schoolgirl Isla Grist, who suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa. Souness said: “What Isla goes through on a daily basis. It is truly horrendous. In summer, we must find a way to make their lives a bit easier on a daily basis and ultimately find a cure.”
Anyone who wants to support the DEBRA charity can do so by clicking here.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.