Graeme Souness undergoes emergency heart surgery after major health scare

Rangers legend Graeme Souness underwent heart surgery last week after experiencing chest pains while watching England v Finland in the UEFA Nations League.

Rangers legend Graeme Souness was rushed to hospital last week and underwent emergency heart surgery following a major health scare.

The 71-year-old former Liverpool star was making a cup of tea while watching football last week when he became unwell. Souness was rushed to hospital where he had stents put into one of his coronary arteries, reports the Daily Record.

Ex-RTE pundit Souness has had heart trouble ever since he was diagnosed with coronary heart disease at the age of 38. He underwent a triple bypass at the time and received a stent in an artery 10 years later before suffering a heart-attack in 2015.

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On his recent health scare, Souness said: “We had a bit of a setback last week. I had a bit of an episode 10 days ago, where I was watching England play Finland, got up at half 10 to make a cup of tea, and felt chest pains.

"Without dwelling on it three days later, I had a couple of stents put into one of my coronary arteries. I feel great. I’ve got a great cardiologist called Talwar down in Bournemouth. And he’s looked after me for 15 years and I’m in great hands.”

Souness had been intending to take part in an event for DEBRA, the butterfly skin charity which included a cross channel swim and cycle from the channel to Westminster, but had suffered with a bad shoulder, needing an operation in January. He was planning to do the cycle part of the challenge last week when the chest pains hit.

He got involved in the charity after being touched by the plight and pain of Scots schoolgirl Isla Grist, who suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa. Souness said: “What Isla goes through on a daily basis. It is truly horrendous. In summer, we must find a way to make their lives a bit easier on a daily basis and ultimately find a cure.”

Anyone who wants to support the DEBRA charity can do so by clicking here.

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