Home and Away star Ray Meagher is now recovering after undergoing emergency open heart surgery.
The 75-year-old actor, who plays Alf Stewart on the soap, was hospitalised and taken into surgery, after doctors found three ‘serious’ blockages within his heart vessels.
According to the Melbourne Herald Sun, Ray had to have a triple bypass following what was supposed to be a routine health check.
Poor Ray! Home and Away star Ray Meagher, 75, was hospitalised and forced to undergo emergency open heart surgery after doctors found multiple ‘serious’ blockages during routine health check
Doctors had reportedly performed a routine health check on Ray, but were forced to act quickly after the results showed the star had multiple blockages.
The publication reports Ray was scheduled for open heart surgery the day after his health check due to ‘the extent of coronary calcification’.
Coronary calcification is the build-up of calcium in the arteries, which can cause blood vessels to narrow and heart disease to develop.
Concerns: The 75-year-old actor, who plays Alf Stewart on the soap, was hospitalised and taken into surgery, after doctors found three ‘serious’ blockages within his heart vessels
Sources added that the acclaimed star is ‘very, very lucky’ and he is now recovering from the procedure in Sydney.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted a spokesperson for Channel 7 for comment.
Ray had been planning a trip to Queensland with his wife Gilly, but it’s believed they have cancelled the break in order for him to stay in Sydney and recover at home.
Ray is a long-standing star of Home and Away and has appeared as Alf on the show since its very first episode in 1988.
Recovering: Sources added that the acclaimed Gold Logie winner is ‘very, very lucky’ and he is now recovering from the procedure in Sydney
Three decades on Ray revealed in March that he was planning on ‘resting’ his much-loved character in a bid to enjoy more time off-screen.
The Gold Logie winner explained that while Alf will still appear on Home and Away, he’s ‘worked out’ a solution with show bosses to work less weeks on set.
‘I said I wanted to work less weeks, so we’ve worked that out, but I’ll still be there more often than not,’ he told the Sun Herald.
Although, Ray laughed off speculation he is soon set to retire, after extending his contract with Channel 7.
Much-loved star: Ray is a long-standing star of Home and Away and has appeared as Alf on the show for over three-decades, since its very first episode in 1988
‘I don’t really think much about retirement,’ he added.
‘I guess the time will come and I will, but I just signed another contract for three years… but sometimes contracts are made to be broken.’
Last month, it was reported Home and Away, that also airs in the UK, is facing the axe after 31 years on TV.
Sources claimed to The Mirror that the soap is under threat due to falling ratings and the competition of reality shows, such as Channel 9’s Married At First Sight.
Channel Seven is said to be considering the future of the soap and is reportedly ‘under pressure’ to change its show schedule.
Former soap stars who have found success after appearing in Summer Bay include Chris Hemsworth, Guy Pearce, Melissa George, Isla Fisher and the late Heath Ledger.
Scaling back: Ray revealed in March that he was planning on ‘resting’ his much-loved character in a bid to enjoy more time off-screen, but laughed off rumours of a retirement (pictured with Home and Away co-star Emily Symons recently)
