Alan Brazil's heart stopped during life-saving surgery after all-day drinking

TalkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil has opened up on the surgery that saved his life, revealing that he underwent a liver transplant. The 66-year-old returned to the breakfast show. He also revealed that his heart stopped while on the operating table.

Brazil has been absent from his regular job presenting the show on talkSPORT for the last few months due to ongoing health issues. It was unclear how serious the matter was until last month.

Speaking on the breakfast show, the former Ipswich Town, Tottenham and Manchester United forward said: "The problem is that at night I can't sleep. I don't want to go too much into it, but I've still got a problem with fluids.

"On the Wednesday morning I worked on talkSPORT, I'd been having ongoing trials, so many specialists, I decided I needed a transplant. I didn't want to do it but my kids and Jill [wife] said you've got to do it, you have to do it, you are doing it.

"Amazingly on the Wednesday I was doing radio, I'd gone through loads of appointments, loads of serious questions and questions that you wouldn't talk to anyone but your family about. Anyway, they decided, "we'll have a go at this or else you're in trouble.

"On the Wednesday, I finished at quarter to 10, I got a shout at 10, you've got to phone Addenbrooke's Hospital, I did at 10, they said "they've got something for you, get here right now."

"I jumped in a cab, went down to Cambridge, and at 2.30 that afternoon I was on the slab. Bang, they opened me up and performed [surgery] for something like eight hours. They transplanted my liver. I had a tiny liver by all accounts and they transplanted it. My heart did stop for a bit, it came back on its own.

"I'll be very frank, I'm very, very lucky. Doctor Gibbs was magnificent. He explained as they were wheeling me into the theatre the dangers and what could happen and that I might not come out of this. But he said, "you're strong, you'll be alright." I swear I thought my days were numbered, honestly.

"But anyway, this guy has been a legend. I had more than four weeks [in total]. I had a week in intensive care then they moved me to the ward. The staff, there's one nurse to 13 beds, that's how bad it is, I was having tests, I was in a cupboard, there was nowhere to put me. The aisles were full of beds and machines. They stuck me near a printer and all that and said 'deal with that for 20 minutes'.

"I've got the staff at Addenbrooke to thank. I had another four weeks in there, got myself out. I feel really good but I can't sleep and I have a problem with fluid. The fluid keeps coming back. They're not worried but saying, "look, it's early days, it's five-and-a-half weeks since we opened you up. We'll get to the bottom of it."

"I'm taking loads of meds and appointments at Ipswich and Cambridge Hospitals. I've just got to be a good boy, rest up, and go and see these people. Hopefully I'll get back to 100 per cent. From where I was before, the last five or six years, I never realised how bad I was. I feel totally different now. I'm incredibly lucky."

He added: "I'm still here! Gradually, every day, improving.

"I'm looking forward to getting back. It's going to be a few more weeks, hopefully two or three and then I'm getting back. There's going to be loads of sport on, which is really getting me going.

"It's been a funny few months, it really has, but there's a lot of rubbish going on at the moment [elsewhere], there's heartbreak and Kenny [Dalglish], Kevin Keegan, John Barnes (all confirmed that they have or have had cancer), every day you read something different.

It's our age I'm afraid. I cocked it and thank God, luckily, the guys at Addenbrooke's Hospital saved my life.

"I'm on the mend I'm still not there, getting there guys. Gabby [Agbonlahor] is still talking tosh so I can still do this.

"Gabby (Agbonlahor), lovely to see you mate, and Ally [McCoist], I'm excited to get back to you with Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts.

"So much sport has been going on and it's really kept me going to be honest. It's been magic and there's still loads to come with the World Cup, so bingo! I'm alive and kicking, and I'm looking forward to it."

Putting a message on social media last month, Brazil said: "As you can see, I'm beginning to improve rapidly, which is great news. I was nearly gone, I don't mind telling you. But listen, it's a miracle now what's happened with the NHS, I can't thank the people at Cambridge enough, they've saved my life basically.

"But, I'm on the mend, you bet, I'm missing radio. I will be back. He added: "It won't be long now, a few weeks, Brazil is back, Thank you for all the messages, I really appreciate it and I'm a lucky boy."