Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic action star and former governor of California, has shared the harrowing details of his third open-heart surgery, which came dangerously close to costing him his life. Born with a congenital heart defect, Schwarzenegger underwent valve replacement surgery just before filming “Terminator: Dark Fate” in 2019. Upon waking up from the surgery, he learned that unexpected internal bleeding had occurred, forcing doctors to quickly reopen his chest to save him.
Recalling the terrifying moment, Schwarzenegger described how doctors informed him of the unexpected complication. He shared, “I woke up, and all of a sudden the doctors were in front of me saying, ‘I’m so sorry but it was unlike what we planned.’ [They said], ‘We made a mistake and poked through the heart wall,’ and had to open me up very quickly.” Schwarzenegger emphasized the need to remain resolute in such situations, saying, “The bottom line is, you cannot roll the clock back. I was in the middle of a disaster. So now how do I get out of it? You have to shift gears. Collect yourself, shift gears and say, ‘Okay, what I need to do now is get out of this hospital.'”
Schwarzenegger’s journey to recovery is depicted in the video, showing him taking small steps around the hospital, a critical part of his healing process. He stressed the importance of exercise for his lungs’ health and expressed gratitude for his positive attitude and support system. Ultimately, he made a triumphant return to fitness and film, demonstrating his indomitable spirit and commitment to living life to the fullest.