Jeremy Clarkson underwent emergency heart surgery

The 64-year-old farmer and TV presenter said he had symptoms of feeling “clammy”, a “tightness” in his chest, and “pins and needles” in his left arm after returning from a recent holiday on an Indian Ocean island. 

He wrote in his column for The Sunday Times: “I was at the breakfast table, and when I stood up to leave, I had to take a moment to make sure my limbs were working properly.” 

He also mentioned issues when trying to dive, swim and walk, which continued after his holiday. 

One day he felt “clammy and there was a tightness in my chest”. 

Not long after he returned to Cotswolds, Mr Clarkson was then taken by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 

He said: “I certainly wasn’t having a heart attack. But if it hadn’t looked that way, I never would have been sent to hospital.” 

Hospitalisation 

While in hospital, Mr Clarkson had undergone checks, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests and X-rays. 

“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. 

“The question was this. Were the arteries so ruined that I’d need an emergency heart bypass? 

“Or could he use Dyno-Rods and ultrasonic battering rams to loosen them up before inserting a stent? Mercifully, this turned out to be possible,” he updated his fans. 

The farmer added that he had a stent fitted. He described it as a tube that is inserted into a narrowed or blocked artery to open it and allow blood to flow more freely. 

Health worries 

“The next morning I went home, and here I am, two hours later, writing this and sort of thinking, ‘Crikey, that was close’. 

“Now, thanks to all those tremendous people at the John Radcliffe in Oxford and all of their extraordinary machines, here I am wondering what water tastes like and if it’s possible to make celery interesting,” he concluded. 

He told The Sun: “I’m very grateful to everyone who sent supportive messages, but I’m fine. 

“I just have to not do any manual labour or dishwasher emptying for the next four years. 

Mr Clarkson had previously spoken about his health problems. In an interview with The Guardian, he said: “I don’t have long left.” 

He also said that his memory is “shot” and he is scared of developing dementia.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s new book covers another memorable year on Diddly Squat Farm

Take care of your health 

A recent survey carried out by RSABI among the Scottish agricultural community has revealed that while there is strong awareness of the importance of taking a break off the farm, too few farmers actually do so.

The survey results revealed important insights into the challenges farmers face in taking breaks, with 43% of participants reporting they took just two to five nights away from the farm during the entire calendar year.

41% of those who completed the survey cited worrying about the farm as a major barrier to taking an overnight break, and less than half (47%) felt confident that someone else could manage the farm in their absence.

However, indicating a positive shift in attitude and action towards taking breaks, almost all (93%) of respondents agreed that taking a break could improve their wellbeing and productivity and, encouragingly, 37% of participants managed to take a break for seven nights or more.

The findings underscore the pressures on those working in the agricultural sector and the crucial need for time off to maintain both mental and physical health, RSABI team said.

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