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NRL legend reveals his heart STOPPED when he gave a speech to hundreds – but he kept going for half an hour before doctors told him he needed life-saving surgery
- Manly great Sir Graham Lowe has revealed his heart stopped during a speech
- The NRL legend then continued and finished before rushing to the hospital
- The 76-year-old had to undergo emergency surgery to have a pacemaker implanted
- He denied credit for his bravery and insists he will be ‘as good as rain’ next week
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Legendary footy coach and administrator Sir Graham Lowe has made the astonishing confession that his heart stopped while speaking at a function, but continued undisturbed before being rushed to hospital.
The great NRL, 76 – who had a long and incredibly successful coaching and administration career, mainly at Manly – underwent emergency surgery last week following the terrifying incident in his native New Zealand.
Lowe somehow managed to downplay the fact that he was able to finish a speech in front of a large crowd despite his heart stopping, even saying the life-threatening incident was “somewhat embarrassing.”
Sir Graham Lowe, a highly respected male legend, finished a speech despite his heart stopping halfway; before the footy great was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery
“I collapsed in front of about 250 people when I was talking at the Grant Millennium (Hotel) here in Auckland,” the Manly legend told The big sports breakfast radio program.
“I just felt a little weird and the next thing bang, I went straight down.
“I found out that my heart actually stopped. I finished the presentation, it took another 20 to 30 minutes, and then I went to the hospital in an ambulance.’
After a world-class coaching career in both Australia and New Zealand stretching back nearly 50 years, Lowe is now a highly regarded presenter on the lucrative speaker circuit.
Sir Graham Lowe (photo comments an NRL match in 2007) has revealed the details behind an extraordinary medical episode that resulted in him being rushed to hospital
He explained that after being rushed to the intensive care unit and undergoing several tests, he needed to have a pacemaker implanted immediately.
The legendary NRL figure also faces major heart surgery next week after undergoing a triple bypass several years ago.
Lowe praised his bravery and insisted he had no idea his heart was in such a bad shape.
“If I had thought it had something to do with my heart, I would have stopped, but I had no symptoms,” he said.
“I’ve had a few heart checks before and there were really no symptoms. I was on stage under lights and it got pretty hot,” he explained.
“I just started to get a little warm and the next minute I crashed, and there I went. But anyway, I’m here now, I’m home, have a week off and then get a new aortic valve, which is another great surgery they can do.
“Come next week, I’m right as rain.”
The highly respected figure has previously revealed that he suffered a brain haemorrhage and a triple bypass, and while he was a Maroons coach, he also suffered a life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
Sir Graham Lowe was knighted in 2019 for his services to youth and education following his long and successful football career
Lowe coached Manly and North Queensland in the 1990s and more recently served as CEO of Sea Eagles from 2009 to 2011. The Kiwi also coached Queensland and New Zealand at a representative level and spent time in the commentary booth.
Lowe also runs a foundation that provides literacy and math programs for underprivileged children, for which he received the Queen’s Service Medal from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1986, before being knighted in 2019.