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David Attenborough

Legendary TV host David Attenborough undergoes heart op

The BBC presenter and naturalist has been forced to cancel a planned tour of Australia.

LEGENDARY BRITISH BROADCASTER Sir David Attenborough has cancelled a scheduled tour of Australia after he had to undergo emergency heart surgery yesterday.

The procedure saw the 87-year-old naturalist fitted with a pacemaker, normally used to correct an abnormal heartbeat.

Event managers, Lateral, said that the host has expressed “extreme disappointment” at having to cancel the Australia tour.

He was due to speak about his life and work during a 60-year career with the BBC where he has presented programmes including Life on Earth and The Living Planet.

The sell-out tour was to take in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

A statement from Lateral added: “He [Attenborough] said he was very much looking forward to coming back to Australia and he hopes to reschedule his tour in the near future”.

Read: 9 reasons why David Attenborough should be reading you a bedtime story

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25 Comments
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    Mute Eimear Walshe
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:43 AM

    That man is loved all around the world. Hope he recovers soon and gets back to keeping us all educated. A living legend.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:43 AM

    Hope this surgery goes well for him and he has a few more years on telly. A personal hero and true gentleman.

    217
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    Mute Ailís McKernan
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:53 AM

    Love that man! My own heart took a dive when I saw the headline, hope he is ok. a world without him would certainly be the poorer for it.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:54 AM

    The word legend is bandied about too much these days but in his case it’s well merited.

    141
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    Mute Jeff Nolan
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:46 AM

    Best wishes. Could listen to him all day…

    140
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:45 AM

    Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to full health Mr Attenborough.

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    Mute stupidlambu
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:58 AM

    Great man for the wildlife documentaries. As I type this I can hear his voice.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Jun 5th 2013, 10:39 AM

    The man could read the phone book and id listen to him all day! Get well soon sir

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    Mute Clifford Brennan
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    Jun 5th 2013, 9:02 AM

    For as long as I can remember this man has introduced and explained the wonders of nature. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

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    Mute Gadfly
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    Jun 5th 2013, 4:38 PM

    I think there are a few chimps with smart phones that havent mastered their thumbs yet. Explains the red thumbs.

    15
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:56 AM

    Great presenter hope the op works out for him.

    80
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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Jun 5th 2013, 9:28 AM

    Brilliant man who has educated generations of kids and adults about out stunning planet and all its life with his unique gentlemanly style , even the gorillas could sense he was a true gent.

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    Mute Donna McCabe
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    Jun 5th 2013, 9:06 AM

    Hope he recovers quickly !!! Hes the only man i listen to … :-)

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    Mute Lord Loverocket
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    Jun 5th 2013, 9:25 AM

    Hero. Get well soon.

    41
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    Mute GoGo99
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:47 AM

    Do the wanna see ANY red thumbs on this page please! Legend

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    Mute Wacker Denacker
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:44 AM

    Loved him in jurrassic park.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:50 AM

    Richard

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Jun 5th 2013, 11:08 AM

    Dick.

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    Mute TanyaLCO'Neill
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    Jun 6th 2013, 3:51 AM

    That’s his brother

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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Jun 5th 2013, 11:03 AM

    A real gentleman who made a true difference with his life and work, hope he has many more seasons of nature docs ahead of him, sometimes I think he’s my grandfather

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    Mute Robert Clifford
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    Jun 5th 2013, 12:05 PM

    One of my heroes. And when the time comes, and I hope it’s not for a while that he sadly passes, he’s buried at Westminster Abbey beside Darwin.

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    Mute Emmett Houlihan
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    Jun 5th 2013, 6:00 PM

    This is one of the first articles I’ve seen in a long time with absolutely no negative comments (and only a few spanners giving red thumbs). And rightly so. The man is a living legend. I hope he gets better and has many healthy, productive years ahead of him doing what he loves.

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    Mute Lillian O'Connor
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    Jun 5th 2013, 5:51 PM

    Can’t fathom how any person could & did red thumb get well wishes for this great explorer/scientist/informer. Speedy recovery is wished for you David.

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    Mute John Wooldridge
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    Jun 5th 2013, 2:49 PM

    Best wishes for a full recovery, the man is a living legend.

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    Mute Paula Kennedy
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    Jun 5th 2013, 8:08 PM

    Wish him well

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