Monty, who had to take a leave of absence from Gardeners’ World after suffering from a serious health scare, has revealed how it made him “terribly aware” of his own mortality
Monty Don has opened up about his terrifying health scare(Image: PA)
Monty Don has opened up about the moment when he realised he was “going to die” after suffering a serious health scare. The Gardeners’ World star explained that a health ordeal that occurred in 2008 made him “terribly aware” of his own mortality.
Monty, who recently returned to our screens with Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens, had to take a leave of absence from Gardeners’ World at the time after suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or a “mini-stroke”.
It seems that the experience led to something of a revelation for Monty, who admitted that “all the clichés are true”. He told The Times: “A stroke makes you terribly aware of your own mortality. I wasn’t well so I couldn’t do much. I couldn’t drive. In a way, it was a good time because I had to stop.”
Monty continued: “It was the first moment I realised that, yes, you are going to die. All the clichés are true — the things that matter are love, family, friends, a nice glass of wine or cup of tea.
“Not fame, not fortune. Nobody on their deathbed is going to say, ‘I wish I had been more famous’.”
What started as a “funny feeling” led to Monty suffering from what the NHS described as a “warning sign” that you’re at an increased risk of stroke, which is a condition that can cause “permanent disability”.
According to Hello!, Monty opted to ignore the unusual feeling and took a walk around the grounds of his home. Once he sought medical advice, however, it was determined that he’d had a TIA.
In 2009, he told The Guardian: “I was so exhausted I did not know whether I was coming or going. I remember waking up feeling strange and dizzy.
“I said to my wife Sarah, ‘God, something funny is happening; I may be having a stroke.’ We weren’t thinking: this is a disaster. I said, ‘Hang on, I can move my fingers.’
“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, get a grip, you’re fine’. I turned to Sarah and said, ‘Hold me because I think I’m dying and, if I am, I want to die in your arms’.”
Monty reportedly had a blockage to the brain that had impacted the supply of blood. The NHS mirrors this in its description of a TIA, noting that this disruption leads to a lack of oxygen to the brain.
People who experience a transient ischaemic attack may experience stroke-like symptoms, including visual and speech disturbances and numbness in the legs, face and arms.
You can learn more about the condition on the NHS website.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website .