AFL Star Damian Monkhorst Predicts His Own Heart Attack Months Ahead

• Football icon narrowly escaped a frightening heart attack in April.
• Damian Monkhorst predicted the health crisis.

Damian Monkhorst, who previously played as a ruckman for Collingwood, has spoken publicly about his recent heart attack. He disclosed that he had foretold this cardiac incident to his partner many months earlier.

Monkhorst, aged 55, endured a heart attack in early April, which he believes was predicted because of the increasing stress in his life along with various concerning health problems.

The 1990 championship star, who now owns his own plumbing company, has been struggling with anxiety for several months concerning the construction sector and the tough times that lie ahead.

Typically known for his laid-back personality, Monkhorst woke up during the wee hours of the morning fretting over job-related concerns.

Monkhorst was also working out less frequently, indulging in snacks more often, and dealing with recurrent headaches along with persistent neck pain.

"I foresaw this with my wife (Trudi), I mentioned 'this will likely cause me a heart attack,'" Monkhorst shared. News Corp.

I experienced pain in my shoulder and neck, attributing it at first to motorcycle rides. These activities coincided with sporadic headaches lasting between six to twelve months.

'I was examining various causes for my headaches instead of addressing the actual issue, which was rising blood pressure making me feel like my head was pounding.'

One morning before heading to work, Monkhorst had a heart attack.

He shared, 'I began feeling as though I couldn’t catch my breath.'

'I began to sweat, my shoulder was achy, and I felt extremely uneasy in my chest.'

The discomfort became so intense that I was heaving uncontrollably... Eventually, I found myself on the porch vomiting, thinking I might have caught some kind of virus.

'I was still in denial once more. After finishing my coffee, I hopped into my Land Cruiser and drove off to work.'

The situation deteriorated for Monkhorst, prompting him to call Trudi. She advised him to go directly to the hospital without delay. This choice likely ended up saving his life.

"He mentioned that the doctor pointed out how fortunate he was," he stated.

'How foolish of me, had I not called Trudi, I probably would have gone to the office and overlooked what was happening, or if I still felt unwell, I would have driven back home directly.'

The ex-footballer, who underwent surgery for two stents to address obstructions in his heart, was informed that stress likely led to the blood vessels rupturing.

He's currently taking blood pressure medications, undergoing rehabilitation, and attempting to reach a more healthy body weight.

Monkhorst has decided not to let job-related stress bother him as much as it did before.

"I almost stumbled when I stepped onto the scale at the hospital," he mentioned regarding his weight.

I typically maintain a specific weight, just below 150 kilograms, but lately, due to stress and various other factors, it has been slightly above that.

'I’m back under control now, but I still have a considerable distance to cover. I’m not depriving myself; it’s all about maintaining a healthy diet and cutting out the snacking.'

Monkhorst's heart attack earlier this year occurred not long after the passing of ex-Collingwood and Richmond player Andrew Krakouer.

Krakouer, who participated in 137 matches from 2001 to 2013, passed away due to what is believed to be a heart attack.

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