Stuart Pearce opens up on Las Vegas health scare upon return to commentary

Former England defender Stuart Pearce has been reflecting on his recent health scare in Las Vegas as he made a return to the commentary booth.

The 62-year-old has opened up about having his heart restarted after falling ill on his flight back from Las Vegas, seeing his beloved Warrington Wolves take on Wigan Warriors.

Pearce was taken to a hospital in Canada after suffering chest pains in the air and spent five days there while recuperating.

In an interview with The Times, he said: “My heart was racing a little bit.

“The medical staff on the plane were magnificent and they made the decision after three hours to drop me off in St John’s in Newfoundland.

“The hospital staff there basically stopped my heart and restarted it again to put it back into a normal rhythm.

“I had five days there and another five days in a hotel waiting for the medical care to get organised, so an extra ten day’s holiday, basically.

“They think it was caused by a virus.”

Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce said his resting heart rate rose to above 155 beats per second, which shocked him and his family.

He added: “When I was filling in the medical form, I even thought I was lying.

“I’ll obviously go through any checks and stuff going forward, but I’m feeling good. I’m fine.

“I’m a little bit matter-of-fact as a person.

“I’ve got no family history of that type of thing, my lifestyle is pretty good, so it’s probably been more of a concern to those around me.

“The support has been very humbling.”

He has returned to commentary after just three weeks of recovery as he took to the mic for England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania on Friday night.

Pearce’s Warrington Wolves next host Leeds Rhinos on Friday night in round six of Super League.