Homes Under the Hammer's Martin Roberts had just 'hours to live' after doctors 'missed' heart problem

Martin Roberts has revealed he was told he had just 'hours' left to live after doctors failed to spot a problem with his heart. The TV presenter, who presents the BBC property auction series Homes Under the Hammer, had to undergo an emergency operation to save his life.

The property expert, 59, had the operation last year after he began experiencing pain in his heart. It turned out that his pericardium, which is a fluid-filled sack that protects the organ, had expanded.

The fluid build-up put immense pressure on his heart and as a result, the TV star revealed had to be rushed to hospital. He admitted the life-threatening condition had been 'missed' by doctors, reports The Mirror.

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"A year ago, I had a problem with my heart that hadn’t been noticed," he told The Sun.

"The sack around my heart had expanded and was putting pressure on the heart. I had less than a few hours to live.

"I was rushed into hospital and had an emergency operation where they stabbed a tube into the sack around the heart and drew a litre and a half of fluid."

The TV star added that if he wasn't 'in the right place', he would've 'been dead'.

Martin's terrifying experience changed his outlook on life and made him willing to do 'anything'.

Earlier this year, Martin went through tragic personal loss and revealed his father died at the age of 90.

He said in March: "My dad died yesterday. He was 90 and he had a great life and he died peacefully, he died at home and he wasn't in pain so that's great but it doesn't... well it does help but it doesn't help right now.

"The loss of a parent is something we all have to deal with and there are much worse losses I know, the loss of a child