27 May 2024 , 22:42
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Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams sent shockwaves through the medical world when he suffered a terrifying health scare that led to his departure from the show. At 62 years old, the Welsh TV personality had a sudden heart attack during a solitary six-mile run in the Welsh countryside.
Following the incident, Iolo underwent surgery to get a stent fitted for a constricted coronary artery, but his troubles didn't end there; complications arose due to clot formation. Thankfully, he's now fighting fit, and spotters can tune in to BBC Two at 8pm, Monday, May 27, to catch him on the latest series of Springwatch, joining co-hosts Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan.
In the premiere episode, viewers will see Iolo split his time between Arne and the wider part of Dorset, with his duties kicking off at Corfe Castle where he'll unveil a live nest. The presenter shed light on his heart attack experience in a conversation with the Mirror, expressing surprise at the sudden event due to his healthy living habits, having refrained from significant alcohol or tobacco consumption.
He reflected: "I knew what it was intense pain under my sternum. It was a heart attack. And I thought well, I can't go down here! So I walked on, crouched a little bit every now and again when the pain got a little bit worse. Got to my car, phoned for an ambulance and they said it would be 90-odd minutes."
The presenter suffered a heart attack during a run (Instagram/ @iolo.williams)
Following the incident, Iolo underwent surgery to get a stent fitted for a constricted coronary artery (Instagram/ @iolo.williams)"So my wife, Ceri, came down, drove me to hospital and from then on I was in the hands of the NHS. They were superb.", reports Birmingham Live.
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He added: "I'm not overweight, I've never smoked, I'm a social drinker. So it must have been some kind of fault that was in me anyway but then why didn't it manifest itself earlier? I just don't know."
"Maybe getting older and still trying to push my body wasn't the wisest thing to do but it's a run I've done twice a week for 15 years. The doctors were as mystified as I am."
After having a stent fitted, Iolo found himself back in hospital, with suspicions that it might have caused a clot to form in his bloodstream. Taking to social media, Iolo shared a hospital selfie hooked up to an ECG machine.
He posted: "Unfortunately I can't co-present @BBCSpringwatch this year. I had a stent inserted in April, which released a clot, that, this week, caused an embolism! My demise has been greatly exaggerated; thanks to brilliant friends, wonderful family and the excellent @ NHS. Go Megan and team SW!"