Sonny Bill Williams Feared He Would Die After Emergency Heart Surgery

Former All Blacks and NRL star Sonny Bill Williams has opened up about a frightening health scare after undergoing emergency open-heart surgery to treat a heart condition he was born with.

The 41-year-old discovered the condition during a routine follow-up appointment after neck surgery earlier this year. Doctors found that his heart was significantly enlarged, with his surgeon warning that someone who appeared perfectly fit could suddenly die from the condition.

In a new 24-minute YouTube video titled My Heart Stopped, Williams documents his journey before and after surgery, including the moment he feared he would not make it through recovery.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Day two, I thought I wasn’t going to make it. It was crazy,” he said.

Williams underwent a Ross procedure to repair his aortic valve at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital. His surgeon, Dr Michael O’Keefe, explained that the operation was successful and could help restore Williams to a normal life expectancy.

Reflecting on his sporting career, Williams also revealed that he often struggled to reach the fitness levels he expected despite training hard. He now believes his heart condition may have played a role.

The former dual-code international, who won two NRL premierships and two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks, has expressed gratitude for the medical team who treated him and the support he has received since sharing his story.

Watch Sonny Bill Williams share his journey in his own words below.