Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he underwent a heart procedure after a “sudden deterioration” in his health.
The former Top Gear presenter said a swim on holiday appeared to cause him difficulties using stairs, with symptoms worsening when he returned to the UK.
The Clarkson’s Farm star said he felt “clammy”, a “tightness in my chest” and “pins and needles in my left arm”.
The 64-year-old went to see his doctor after hearing about former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond’s sudden death last weekend.
He ended up going to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital via ambulance, but tests including an electrocardiogram (ECG) ruled out a heart attack.
Clarkson said doctors believed he was potentially “days away” from becoming very ill.
“It seems that of the arteries feeding my heart with nourishing blood, one was completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way,” he told The Sunday Times.
He had a stent fitted within two hours. The device works to prevent future heart attacks by improving blood flow to the heart. Jeremy continued: “It wasn’t especially painful. Just odd,” adding that he has thought since: “Crikey, that was close.”
Jeremy also tried to make light of the situation as he admitted “wondering what water tastes like and if it’s possible to make celery interesting” after his health scare. He already gave up smoking after he got pneumonia while on holiday in Spain.
Earlier this week Jeremy sparked concern among fans after he was seen with a “suspicious looking” dressing on his wrist while promoting his new book on social media. He was seen with what appeared to be an injury as he talked about book recommendations following his trip overseas with partner Lisa Hogan, 52.
Jeremy gave a quick overview of a few novels, including Annihilation by Michel Houellebecq and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. But it quickly emerged that his book reviews were simply a way to segue into his own book, Diddly Squat: Home to Roost, which is set for release on October 24.
But although Jeremy was gesturing to his books with the dressing in clear view of the camera, he didn’t mention it. Fans spotted it immediately though, and got on to the TV presenter in the comments. One concerned fan wrote: “How’d you hurt your wrist Jezza?” Another thought there was something fishy going on, questioning: “What happened to you hand? That’s a suspicious looking bandage.”
A third social media user decided to play detective, pondering: “Wrist injury is worrying, tanline on his other wrist too…” One cynical genius reckons the whole thing was a publicity stunt, typing: “Now the rumours will start from that strategically placed plaster… this fella knows how to play the PR game.”
But an exasperated fan just pleaded: “We all need to know what’s happened to your wrist man!!!”
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