BBC presenter Iolo Williams discusses his terrifying ‘out of nowhere’ heart attack as it is revealed he will return to Winterwatch for the first time since returning
Iolo Williams has discussed his terrifying heart attack ‘out of the blue’ as he prepares to return to Winterwatch.
The presenter, 61, will join Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan at the RSPB Arne in Dorset for the first time since 2017 to film the BBC nature show.
The natural star suffered an unexpected heart attack during a flight last year and fell victim to an embolism two months later.
Although he has now made a full recovery, the past year has been filled with hospital visits and recurring health problems.
Appearing on BBC Morning Live via video link, Iolo spoke to presenters Gethin Jones and Rav Wilding: ‘It was very unexpected. I did one of my regular runs, two or three times a week, five or six miles.
Iolo Williams has discussed his terrifying heart attack ‘out of the blue’ as he prepares to return to Winterwatch for the first time since returning
The presenter, 61, suffered a heart attack during a run in the countryside in the middle of nowhere
‘Four and a half miles into running in the middle of nowhere, I suddenly had extreme pain under my breastbone.
‘I knew what it was. It was a heart attack; it couldn’t be anything else. But it was a mile from my car. I had to walk further, I had to get to the car.’
The ambulance said it would take an hour, so Iolo went back to the vehicle and took breaks when the pain became too intense.
He went to Wolverhampton Hospital where he had a stent inserted.
However, two months later he suffered an embolism while in the car with friends and was unable to move his right arm or leg. Iolo now believes the stent led to the formation of a clot.
When asked if there had been any warning signs before the first heart attack, Iolo replied “none at all.”
He said the scare came as a huge shock because he was a regular runner and took spin classes, did not smoke and rarely drank alcohol.
lolo, who withdrew from filming activities on his nature television program following the health crisis, will film four evenings of live shows documenting nature and returns to Winterwatch on January 16.
lolo Williams returns for the new series of Winterwatch after suffering a heart attack last year
The presenter, 61, will join (pictured L-R) Michaela Strachan, Gillian Burke and Chris Packham at the RSPB Arne in Dorset to film four nights of live shows capturing wildlife.
Speaking about his return to Winterwatch, he said: ‘I’m very excited. I haven’t seen the team since January 2020 due to Covid!’
In the new series, viewers can expect to see eagles, ravens, badgers and foxes via the crew’s hidden cameras in both locations.
In October, it was reported that Iolo was withdrawing from his television filming duties following the ‘unexpected’ heart attack.
He suffered serious complications after his operation to place a stent in an artery.
The treatment involves inserting a short wire mesh tube that acts as a scaffold, called a stent, to widen and open narrowed or blocked arteries that supply the heart muscle.
According to the NHS, the procedure carries risks such as damage to arteries, allergic reactions and excessive bleeding.
Winterwatch returns on BBC 2 on January 6 at 8pm.
Iolo stopped filming on his nature television program after suffering an ‘unexpected’ heart attack and major complications following his surgery to place a stent in an artery