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David Attenborough undergoes urgent heart surgery and has pacemaker fitted | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Sir David Attenborough has undergone surgery to insert a pacemaker. The 87-year-old broadcaster was forced to cancel a sell-out speaking tour of Australia because of the urgent procedure | |
A spokesman for the naturalist said doctors believed he was doing well. He said: "Sir David has now had the operation and his doctors are satisfied with his progress." | |
Before the operation he said the naturalist behind landmark television series such as Life on Earth, The Blue Planet and The Life of Birds was still his "lively self". | |
"It's a minor procedure but it meant that he cannot go on a 27-hour flight to Australia," he said. | |
"He's very disappointed that he can't fulfil the tour but it's nothing to be alarmed about." | |
BBC director of television Danny Cohen sent a message of support, saying: "We all wish Sir David a full and strong recovery." | |
Attenborough, whose programmes have also included Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, recently narrated and presented the hit BBC1 series Africa. | |
He is also presenting a new BBC Radio 4 series, Tweet Of The Day, devoted to birdsong. | |
The wildlife star said recently that he had no intention of doing less, saying: "I've been broadcasting for 60 years. I don't want to slow down. Retirement would be so boring." | |
Asked about his plans earlier this year, he said: "I'm going to China to see some very interesting fossils. In 2012, I went to the Galapagos, to Africa, north America and Australia. | |
"I've no idea how many days I was away." |