Alan Brazil, the former Scotland international footballer and well-known radio broadcaster, has shared details about a recent liver transplant that saved his life. The 67-year-old, who supports Celtic and returned to talkSPORT after nearly four months away from broadcasting, underwent the complex surgery in June at Addenbrooke Hospital.

Brazil’s operation lasted around eight hours and included a critical moment when his heart briefly stopped for approximately 40 seconds before restarting without the need for external intervention. Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show alongside ally Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor, Brazil described his experience and the urgency surrounding the transplant.

He revealed that doctors had suspected he had liver cancer for several months but initially avoided surgery to prevent the potential spread of the disease. Brazil emphasized the challenge faced by many on transplant waiting lists, where donors are scarce and matches can take up to 18 months to find. He said at his final hospital visit, a perfect match became available suddenly, prompting immediate surgery.

“They said the perfect match came in, otherwise I might still be waiting,” Brazil said, highlighting the uncertainty and difficulty experienced by transplant candidates. He described the moment he was asked to sign consent forms before surgery and the emotional impact on his wife at the time.

Since the operation, Brazil has been on significant medication to aid recovery. He also shared that doctors told him the situation had become critical, and without the transplant, he likely would not have survived more than a few additional weeks due to severe fluid buildup in his body.

Reflecting on the procedure’s dramatic moments, Brazil joked about the medical team’s response when his heart stopped. “I said, ‘Did you get the jump leads on?’ He said, ‘No. We were about to take action but it came back,’” he recounted.

Brazil’s return to the breakfast show marks a significant milestone in his recovery, and he has expressed gratitude for the medical care and support he received throughout this ordeal.