BBC DIY SOS star, Mark Millar, has revealed his huge scar after undergoing life-saving open-heart surgery. The TV builder, 55, is recovering from a triple bypass after surviving a heart attack when he went cold water swimming at the end of last year in Sommerset.
Thankfully, Mark, who stars in the home improvement show alongside presenter, Nick Knowles, is making good progress as he proudly showed off the results from his major surgery. Revealing his scar, which stretches the length of his chest, the builder said he was recovering well, however he admitted to ‘struggling mentally’ after the gruelling operation. Apologising for being ‘a bit quiet’, he took to Instagram saying: “I’ve been a bit quiet about my post op recovery, but I’m doing well and healing well, but I’ve struggled a bit mentally because I feel vulnerable.”
Pointing at his scar, he continued: “I’ve been open from here to the top of my stomach so I get a bit worried about someone or me knocking it. I’m just about to have my first swim and I am very excited.”
Updating fans after his swim, Mark said he felt ‘amazing’. However, he then admitted he’d been “ticked off” by a cardiologist, who said he should only be doing gentle exercise.
He posted: “That was amazing, that was the first time I’ve been in the water since November, I’m seven weeks post op, I swam 10 lengths and I’m so high and this is amazing I am alive” before later adding: “Yesterday I put a post up about me going for a swim seven weeks post op and I shouldn’t have done it.
“I was slightly ticked off early from someone in the cardio unit but I should have waited until 12 weeks until the sternum is completely healed so I don’t damage or contract any infection.
“So please don’t swim before 12 weeks, I’m sorry for doing that. I’m not sure what I’m going to do now for the next few weeks exercise-wise, I guess more walking.”
Mark had a heart attack while open water swimming and previously said as soon as the pain started it felt ‘like a lifetime’ for him to swim back to the shore with help from his friends.
After being rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, he told the BBC: “It felt like someone was tightening a belt around me. If it was not for my friends and my £15 float, I am not sure if I would be here today.
“I was having red flags, everything was wrong’, he said. “The water felt like treacle, I felt absolutely dreadful.”
Updating fans three weeks after his triple bypass, he took to Instagram from his hospital bed, saying he, thankfully, felt “fantastic”, sharing: “I feel amazing, I’m walking I’m averaging seven thousand steps a day, I feel fantastic, I have my appetite back.
“I was exhausted for about two weeks and a bit tender but I really am making my way back and thank you to the surgeons and doctors that helped me.”
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