Bob Mortimer, 64, reveals he saw a white light during triple bypass surgery and no longer fears death: ‘It was quite extraordinary’

Bob Mortimer has revealed he saw a white light at the end of a tunnel and no longer fears death after an eery vision during surgery.

The comedian, 64, underwent a triple heart bypass surgery in 2015  when his heart was stopped for 32 minutes after discovering that 95% of his arteries were blocked.

Bob, who also struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, had an experience during the surgery that made him believe in life after death. 

Speaking on Kathy Burke‘s Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake podcast, Bob said: ‘I did see the light at the end of the tunnel. I experienced going towards the light and feeling happier than I have ever felt, ever. 

‘It was quite extraordinary, and then I woke up a day later and I was OK. I thought, ‘This is great. I no longer fear death and everything’.’

Bob Mortimer has revealed he saw a white light at the end of a tunnel and no longer fears death after an eery vision during surgery

The comedian, 64, underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2015 when his heart was stopped for 32 minutes after discovering that 95% of his arteries were blocked

But after mentioning his near-death experience, Bob was told: ‘Loads of people wrote to me and said, ‘It’s because your body gives out loads of PCT, some chemical to get you through that and it gives you these hallucinations’. I was a bit sad about that.’

Doctors told Bob before his surgery that he risked having a heart attack on stage because of his blocked arteries.

So bad was his prognosis that he married his girlfriend of 22 years Lisa Matthews on the day he was admitted. 

Bob endured the ‘worst health year’ of his life in 2023 after he was told by doctors he has lost 20% of muscle function. 

The Gone Fishing star said his health took a rapid decline after contracting shingles – a painful condition caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

He told his friend Paul Whitehouse on Gone Fishing: ‘It’s been a very, very, very unhealthy year for me Paul with my shingles.

‘It was the worst health year of my life to be honest and you know what, it was worse than my heart period.

Paul, 65, said: ‘With this, you had misery and pain in equal measure didn’t you?

Bob, who also struggles with rheumatoid arthritis, had an experience during the surgery that made him believe in life after death (pictured with Paul Whitehouse) 

Bob told him: ‘At the moment the consultant saying I’m heading for 80% muscle recovery in my leg and she said ‘you’ll just have to see what that means for you.

‘The muscles I’ve lost, I’ve lost… But other ones can compensate for it, you know what I mean?

‘I can make the other muscles stronger but I have a terrible feeling I’m never going to be able to run again and you know that I used to like to run Paul.’

Bob has been open about his health in the past and has candidly spoken about his triple heart bypass surgery and struggles with arthritis.

In December 2020, Bob admitted he feared the coronavirus pandemic would cut his life short by two years.

Confessing he ditched his healthy lifestyle in lockdown, he said: ‘I’ve done no exercise, I’ve eaten so much and drunk so much booze. Lockdown has probably taken two years off of my life.’

The comedian previously spoke about his struggles with rheumatoid arthritis.

Bob said: ‘In my mid-twenties I got struck down with rheumatoid arthritis. I just woke up and it was like, ‘bang’.

‘I have been free of it since I have been 34 and it came back 10 days ago. It is really sad for me to know whether it will go. Yes I might be fat but actually I am on steroids.

‘At around 60 I like turned off and did not want anything different to happen. But it takes until you are 60 to realise all the things you could have done.’

Sean O’grady For Mailonline

Video can be accessed at source link below