Jeremy Clarkson undergoes heart surgery after sudden health 'deterioration'

has undergone a heart procedure following a "sudden deterioration" in his health.

The star opened up about the ordeal as he described the "wearisome effects of growing old." The presenter detailed how he had been swimming in the Indian Ocean on holiday when he first faced difficulties using the stairs, and that when he returned home a "sudden deterioration began to gather pace."

Jeremy described how he felt "clammy", with a "tightness in my chest", and "pins and needles in my left arm", and having heard news of , decided he needed to see his doctor. He said he then went to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford via an ambulance, where they ruled out a heart attack after undergoing an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests and X-rays.

He was then taken to an "operating theatre" where after further checks doctors said he was "days away" from getting very ill. Jeremy said in his : "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 had a stent fitted within two hours. The device works to prevent future heart attacks by improving blood flow to the heart. Jeremy continued: "It wasn't especially painful. Just odd," adding that he has thought since: "Crikey, that was close."

Jeremy also tried to make light of the situation as he admitted "wondering what water tastes like and if it's possible to make celery interesting" after his health scare. He already gave up smoking after he got pneumonia while on holiday in Spain.

while promoting his new book on social media. He was seen with what appeared to be an injury as he talked about book recommendations following his trip overseas with partner , 52.

Jeremy gave a quick overview of a few novels, including Annihilation by Michel Houellebecq and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. But it quickly emerged that his book reviews were simply a way to segue into his own book, Diddly Squat: Home to Roost, which is set for release on October 24.

But although Jeremy was gesturing to his books with the dressing in clear view of the camera, he didn't mention it. Fans spotted it immediately though, and got on to the TV presenter in the comments. One concerned fan wrote: "How’d you hurt your wrist Jezza?" Another thought there was something fishy going on, questioning: "What happened to you hand? That's a suspicious looking bandage."

A third social media user decided to play detective, pondering: "Wrist injury is worrying, tanline on his other wrist too…" One cynical genius reckons the whole thing was a publicity stunt, typing: "Now the rumours will start from that strategically placed plaster… this fella knows how to play the PR game." But an exasperated fan just pleaded: "We all need to know what's happened to your wrist man!!!"

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