Sheffield Wednesday legend in life saving heart operation drama

Sheffield Wednesday legend Carlton Palmer is recovering in hospital after a five-hour heart operation.
Carlton Palmer in actionCarlton Palmer in action
Carlton Palmer in action

The former Owl and England international Tweeted from his hospital bed to let friends and fans know he is recovering after the shock surgery.

Palmer, who played for Wednesday between 1989 and 1994, clocking up 205 appearances before returning for a loan spell in 2001, described the operation as a 'major fright' and a 'bolt from the blue'.

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The ex-midfielder, who still lives in Sheffield and celebrates his 51st birthday today, said he had a 'lucky escape'.

The reason for the operation is not yet known, but the football pundit, who works for the BBC's Final Score, said surgeons performed the procedure by reaching his heart through his groin.

He said surgeons had declared the operation 'a success'.

Friends including ex-footballer Alan Shearer, Sheffield cricketer Michael Vaughan, boxer Ryan Rhodes, former Owls goalkeeper Kevin Pressman and ex-Doncaster Rovers boss Paul Dickov all turned to Twitter to wish Palmer well.

Shearer wrote: "Hope you're OK. Wishing you a speedy recovery pal."

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Responding to Tweets, Palmer wrote: "Major fright but surgeon said operation was a success. So time to move forward.

"Thank you for all your kind wishes. I am on the road to recovery.

"I am who I am, no feeling sorry - fighting back already. Marathon in Feb."

One hell of a scare but what is done is done. Surgery went well, on the way back already. Bolt out of blue from nowhere, shook me up can't deny it."

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Palmer started his football career at West Bromwich Albion, before a successful move to Sheffield Wednesday, which saw him at the club for five years.

The former Premier League midfielder, who was was capped 18 times by England and scored one goal for his country, was sold to Leeds United for £2.6 million.

He also had spells at Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Coventry City, before he hung up his boots in 2003.

Palmer went into management in 2001, taking on a player-manager role at Stockport County and the same again at Mansfield Town from 2004.

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