Alan Brazil ‘lucky to be alive’ after heart stopped during operation

TalkSport host Alan Brazil has revealed he is “lucky to be alive” after his heart stopped during a liver transplant.

>The former Scotland and Ipswich striker, 66, revealed last month that he recently underwent a “life-saving operation”.

>He returned to air on Thursday morning, confirming he is still on the mend but is “alive and kicking”.

>“I am still here. Gradually, every day improving and looking forward to getting back,” Brazil said.

>“It is going to be a few more weeks, but hopefully, just two or three and get back.

>“There has been loads of sport on that has really kept me going, and it has been a funny few months - it really has.

>“There is a lot of rubbish going at the moment with Kenny [Dalglish] and Kevin Keegan, John Barnes [all diagnosed with cancer] - every day you read something different.

>“I copped it, but thank God, luckily, the guys at Addenbrooke's Hospital have saved my life.”

>Brazil said he underwent the operation just hours after finishing presenting his breakfast show on TalkSport.

>“They transplanted my liver. My heart did stop for a bit and it came back on its own,” he said. “I’ll be frank, I’m very, very lucky to be here.”

>Brazil made 13 appearances for Scotland and scored 76 goals for Ipswich in a six-year spell at Portman Road between 1977 and 1983, winning the FA Cup in 1978 and Uefa Cup in 1981.