Homes Under the Hammer host Martin Roberts reveal fears about ‘how long he has left’ after heart surgery
Homes Under the Hammer host Martin Roberts has expressed his concerns about how long he has left to live after coming perilously close to death just three hours before heart surgery.
The 61-year-old suffered a near-death experience earlier this year after suffering from a pericardial effusion.
He was “hours from death” as he was rushed into surgery that saved his life to relieve the build-up of fluid around his heart.
Even though it has been two years since his health woes began, Martin still gets twinges in his chest and minor panic attacks.
However, he has refused to slow down, taking on a new TV show about his pub renovations.
But in a new interview, he has candidly admitted that he doesn’t know “how long he has left”, so he is trying to do as much as his body will allow, while he still can.
Martin told MailOnline: ‘The physical side of things took a lot longer than we thought to get around. I still get twinges.
“Every single time I get a twinge in my chest, I panic. As anyone who has had any kind of problems with their heart would attest to it.’
He continued: “It sends you into a flurry of worry because they only sort of dribble out these stories afterwards.
“It was like I went to see the consultant who did the emergency operation, and I said to him, “so how long would I have survived?”
“He said, ‘Well, you probably wouldn’t have made it through the night.'”
Martin also revealed that the doctor told him he was “two to three hours from dying.”
He added that his biggest fears were “not being here, not seeing the kids, not fulfilling all my ambitions, and not doing all the things I wanted to do.”
But he refuses to slow down. He is ploughing ahead with his pub renovation project at Hendrewem Hotel.
However, he has enlisted the help of local kids, including those who are disengaged and disadvantaged, to learn a new skill, so he doesn’t over do it.
He said, “I was told I needed to slow down and take things easy and all that kind of stuff, and I’ve gone a completely different way.”
“Just doing lots of good. I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, so I just want to do as much as I possibly can to help.
“It’s not really about money. It’s about just making a difference, because that’s what you’ll be remembered for.”
What is pericardial effusion?
Pericardial effusion is the buildup of too much fluid in the double-layered, saclike structure around the heart (pericardium).
It can put pressure on the heart, affecting how the heart works. If untreated, it may lead to heart failure or death in extreme cases.
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Discomfort when breathing while lying down
- Chest pain, usually behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest
- Chest fullness
- Lightheadedness or feeling faint
- Swelling in the abdomen or legs
Source: Mayo Clinic