Jeremy Clarkson feared he was 'days from death' after 'sudden health deterioration'

Jeremy Clarkson has shared his health and mortality fears after heart surgery (Image: PA)

Jeremy Clarkson recently revealed he feared he hadn't got long to live after a string of health fears led up to his recent heart surgery.

The Clarkson's Farm star seemed full of energy and enthusiasm when he was pulling pints behind the bar of his newly opened pub The Farmer's Dog this summer.

However, he has secretly been enduring a rumbling health battle behind the scenes - and this weekend he confirmed the extent of it, admitting he feared he may have been "days from death" at the time of his hospital dash. In fact, the tormented TV star has even counted the precise amount of hours that he might be able to enjoy before he leaves the earth.

He quipped to the Guardian: "I don’t have long. I’ve probably only got what, 70,000 hours left, maybe?” The 64-year-old isn't officially a pensioner yet, but he recently confided that he'd felt it was his time to leave The Grand Tour as he was "too old and fat" to continue driving supercars around the world.

He has given up smoking and even attempted a wellness holiday with girlfriend Lisa Hogan, but their Portuguese health retreat didn't go as planned. In fact, the strict juice diet he embarked on reportedly left him with a painful abcess on his back.

Jeremy Clarkson opened up about his surgery (Image: YOUTUBE)

Referring to his latest health scare in his Sunday Times column, Jeremy explained he'd first realised he was in serious trouble when he was left struggling to climb stairs.

Following a swim on his Indian Ocean holiday, he developed terrifying symptoms of "tightness" in his chest and "pins and needles" in his left arm.

When he returned, he made a desperate dash to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital and was relieved to learn he hadn't had the heart attack he'd suspected.

However, one of the arteries pumping blood to his heart was completely blocked, while another was "almost there".

Jeremy Clarkson and partner Lisa Hogan (Image: GETTY)

He received a life-saving stent to enhance blood flow to the heart, minimising his future chances of having the heart attack he feared.

His verdict? "Crikey, that was close."

The scare comes after he was targeted in a car robbery recently, and shared his annoyance online.

Although Jeremy still dislikes the idea of health retreats, he recently quit smoking and has cut down on his hectic travelling lifestyle too.

A quieter but equally fulfilling life lies ahead at his Oxfordshire farm, taking care of his businesses including new pub The Farmer's Dog and filming Clarkson's Farm at home with sidekick Kaleb Cooper.