Former Premier League hardman Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock reveals how he ‘died’ on operating table

Former Premier League star Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock has revealed how he ‘technically died’ on the working desk throughout emergency coronary heart surgical procedure.

The retired defender, 52, had a resting price of 130 beats per minute – as an alternative of 60 or 70 – and required a process referred to as a ‘cardioversion’ to repair the difficulty earlier than having a pacemaker fitted. 

Ruddock, who performed for Premier League golf equipment together with Liverpool, West Ham and Tottenham, admitted the issue arose after years of heavy consuming however insists the surgical procedure saved his life. 

Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock has revealed how his coronary heart stopped on the working desk throughout surgical procedure

Ruddock had a resting coronary heart price of at the very least 130 beats per minute earlier than the operation

The defender loved a Premier League profession with West Ham amongst different high golf equipment

The dad-of-four informed the Daily Star: ‘At my worst I used to be loopy. I used to be doing three or 4 ­bottles of wine a day, easy-peasy, plus spirits, beers, cocktails.

‘Earlier than I may get my pacemaker I needed to have my coronary heart zapped to gradual it down.

‘They zap it seven occasions. In case your heartbeat would not return to regular after seven occasions, you are in bother.

‘Mine got here again the third time they did it – however it stopped and I used to be technically useless for a number of seconds.’  

The guts situation was introduced on by years of heavy consuming by the famend hardman

Ruddock, who retired in 2003, was solely made conscious of the issue throughout a well being check-up earlier than filming TV present Harry’s Heroes. 

He added: ‘Harry’s Heroes despatched me to a coronary heart surgeon to test every thing was alright as a result of I used to be getting dizzy simply operating upstairs. I assumed, ‘Oh, no, it may very well be mind trauma after heading too many footballs’. However they discovered it was from my coronary heart beating too quick, in order that was an enormous wake-up name.’  

Ruddock feared he had suffered dementia after heading so many footballs throughout his profession

Ruddock, who has two daughters Pebbles and Kizzy with spouse Leah, admitted the ache of the operation was the worst he had skilled in his life.  

‘You are awake once they match it,’ mentioned the previous centre-half. ‘They numbed my coronary heart space then they did it – it was the worst ache of my life.

‘I may see the surgeon pushing it in and it was fairly daunting. I used to be by myself, however 

‘I had a fantastic German surgeon, who had a fantastic sense of humour and put some disco music on to assist me.

‘It hurts a lot and generally it would not take. I used to be simply wanting it to work as a result of I did not wish to undergo that ache once more.

‘The medical doctors mentioned, “We acquired you simply in time”. I am simply glad I did not have dementia from heading too many balls.’