Ex-Liverpool player and manager Graeme Souness suffered a heart attack last year and has struggled with heart problems, and has now become an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation to aid those with similar issues, as reported by the Echo.
The 63-year-old has endured issues for a long time, being diagnosed with a coronary heart condition at just 38.
He had to have a triple heart bypass after it was discovered that three of his arteries were blocked, but unfortunately the problems returned later in life.
Souness collapsed in front of his wife after a heart attack, but thankfully he recovered. He’s now championing the cause with the BHF, and spoke about the disease in a recent interview..
“When I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, I was as fit as any other player on the pitch,” he said.
“I never thought I’d be the type of person to get heart disease but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
“In the UK, every eight minutes someone dies from coronary heart disease, so during a 90-minute match from kick-off to the final whistle, an entire team of 11 players could be taken away from their friends and family.
“Each year the British Heart Foundation funds £100m of research in its fight against heart disease.
“I’m proud to be on their side as an ambassador for research, but they urgently need more support to help end this suffering.”
This is unfortunately a disease that will be with Souness forever, but once identified it’s something that can be monitored and hopefully kept under control.
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The disease is a huge killer in the UK, and as the Echo states it’s responsible for nearly 70,000 deaths per year.