Home & Away actor Ray Meagher has revealed he is recovering after a triple bypass operation.
The 75-year-old actor has spoken after a routine annual health check saw him land in hospital for surgery within 24 hours.
The beloved actor, who plays Alf on the long-running show, said the experience made him appreciate how lucky he is- and the importance of heading off on to checkups regularly.
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In a triple bypass, surgeons repair three of the heart’s arteries.
Planning to leave for a trip, “we were all packed up and ready to drive north,” Ray told the Melbourne Herald Sun,”but if we had gone without seeing the cardiologist, well, you could have a heart attack at the wheel.”
Recovering from his health scare, Ray has been firm in his insistence it’s business as usual for Alf, and refuting rumours the beloved soap will be axed.
Still one of Australia’s highest rated dramas, Home and Away, would not be the same without star Ray Meagher as Alf Stewart.
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The long-running series is shown around the world, with a particularly huge following in the UK where it is shown on Channel 5.
Earlier this year, New Idea exclusively confirmed these rumours are categorically untrue, with Seven Network spokesperson saying: ‘These reports are complete rubbish’.
Star Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts on the show, also calmed fans when confronted with the claims that Summer Bay was soon to be no more.
‘NO!!! Ok getting s****y now!! To my knowledge this is [horse poo],’ she wrote on Twitter.
‘Enough already. We are not going anywhere.
‘I turn up to work. People film me. I get paid. Pretty sure that means the show will keep going to air. AND we’re 5-6 months ahead with the filming.’