Alan Brazil made an emotional return to the TalkSPORT airwaves this morning, revealing the terrifying moment his heart stopped during a life-saving liver transplant.
The beloved broadcaster, 66, had been absent from his breakfast show for months before appearing briefly to share the dramatic details of his ordeal.
Speaking candidly to listeners, the former Scotland international said: "I'll be frank, I'm very, very lucky to be here."
The operation took place just six weeks ago at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where surgeons performed the eight-hour procedure that ultimately saved his life.
Alan Brazil, the 66-year-old talkSPORT presenter and former Scottish football star, has revealed he is recuperating following what he described as a "life-saving" operation | TALKSPORTBrazil, who enjoyed a stellar football career with Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, told fans: "I'm still here! Gradually every day improving."
The day of the surgery itself was nothing short of extraordinary.
Brazil had been presenting his usual breakfast show that Wednesday morning, wrapping up at quarter to ten as normal.
Just fifteen minutes later, everything changed when he received an urgent call telling him to contact Addenbrooke's Hospital immediately.
"They said 'get in right now'," Brazil recalled.
He jumped straight into a taxi and headed to Cambridge, where by half past two that afternoon he was already on the operating table.
The former striker spent roughly eight hours in surgery as doctors worked to transplant his liver.
Alan Brazil has long been a popular figure on talkSPORT | YOUTUBEIt was during this marathon procedure that his heart temporarily stopped beating, though remarkably it restarted on its own.
Brazil was refreshingly honest about how close he came to not making it through.
He revealed that Dr Gibbs had warned him before wheeling him into theatre about the dangers involved, including the possibility he might not survive.
"I swear I thought my days were numbered, honestly," Brazil admitted.
The presenter spent a week in intensive care before being moved to a general ward, where he witnessed firsthand the pressures facing NHS staff.
He described being placed near a printer in a cupboard at one point because there was simply nowhere else to put him, with one nurse responsible for thirteen beds.
Despite the challenging conditions, Brazil was full of praise for the team who saved him.
"I copped it, but thank God, luckily, the guys at Addenbrooke's Hospital have saved my life," he said.
Alan Brazil pictured playing for Scotland during his playing days | GETTYBrazil is already looking ahead to his comeback, hoping to be back behind the microphone within two to three weeks.
The prospect of upcoming sporting events has clearly been keeping his spirits high during recovery.
"There's going to be loads of sport on, which is really getting me going," he said, mentioning his excitement about the World Cup.
True to form, the presenter couldn't resist some playful ribbing with his colleagues, joking that co-host Gabby Agbonlahor was "still talking tosh" in his absence.
Alan Brazil has worked with talkSPORT since 2000 | PAHe also expressed his eagerness to reunite with Ally McCoist and get stuck into discussions about Celtic, Rangers and Hearts.
"So much sport has been going on and it's really kept me going to be honest," Brazil added. "Bingo! I'm alive and kicking, and I'm looking forward to it."