Jeremy Clarkson says 'that was close' after being rushed to hospital for heart surgery

The TV presenter said he has undergone surgery

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed how he had to have heart surgery after a 'sudden deterioration' in his health. The former Top Gear host opened up about the 'wearisome effects of growing old' as he told of his health news.

The 64-year-old - who also presents Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video - told how he found it difficult walking up the stairs after a swim in the Indian Ocean while on holiday. It meant that when he returned home, he realised a 'sudden deterioration began to gather pace'.

Clarkson felt 'clammy' and had a 'tightness' in his chest, as well as pins and needles in his left arm. He decided to see his doctor after hearing the news of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond’s fatal heart attack.

READ MORE: Chris Hoy says 'rock bottom' as wife also diagnosed with incurable disease

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here.

He went to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, via an ambulance. A heart attack was ruled out after an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests and X-rays.

He then went to an operating theatre and after further checks, doctors said he could be 'days away' from getting very ill. Writing in his Sunday Times column, Clarkson said: "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 said a stent - which can stop heart attacks by improving blood flow to the heart - was fitted in about two hours. Clarkson added: "It wasn’t especially painful. Just odd"

The television presenter revealed he had been thinking "crikey, that was close" at the time. Clarkson went on to say that he was "wondering what water tastes like and if it’s possible to make celery interesting" following the health scare as considered cutting back on eating meat.

He previously revealed he quit smoking after contracting pneumonia on holiday in Spain.