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David Attenborough to undergo urgent heart surgery David Attenborough undergoes urgent heart surgery and has pacemaker fitted
(about 9 hours later)
Sir David Attenborough, the veteran BBC natural history broadcaster, is to undergo urgent surgery on Tuesday to have a pacemaker fitted, according to a statement from his promoters. 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
The 87-year-old presenter of landmark wildlife series including Life on Earth, The Living Planet, The Life of Mammals and The Life of Birds, was about to embark on a speaking tour of Australia, which has now been cancelled so he can remain in the UK for treatment, according to his Australian promoters, Lateral Event Management. 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."
The statement read: "Sir David Attenborough is to undergo surgery in London today following advice from his cardiologist that he is in urgent need of a pacemaker. Sir David expressed his extreme disappointment as he said he was very much looking forward to coming back to Australia and he hopes to reschedule his tour in the near future." 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".
The BBC referred questions about the operation to Attenborough's Australian PR team. "It's a minor procedure but it meant that he cannot go on a 27-hour flight to Australia," he said.
It released a brief statement from Danny Cohen, the corporation's director of television, saying: "We all wish Sir David a full and strong recovery." "He's very disappointed that he can't fulfil the tour but it's nothing to be alarmed about."
Attenborough, whose 60-year BBC career included a stint as controller of BBC2, was due to begin a national tour of Australia, speaking about his life and work, in Brisbane on 11 June, reprising a sold-out tour in 2012. BBC director of television Danny Cohen sent a message of support, saying: "We all wish Sir David a full and strong recovery."
Attenborough hoped to reschedule to tour once he had recovered from the operation, the Australian promoters said. 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."