CELEBRITY CHEF KEVIN Dundon has opened up about how he almost died after he suffered two pulmonary embolisms following a recent medical procedure.

Speaking on the Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio One, Dundon said that he has “reassessed [his] life” after the serious health scare.

Dundon told D’Arcy that he had been admitted for a procedure to remove his varicose veins.

However, the procedure led to the development of two pulmonary embolisms (blood clots) in his lungs, leaving him close to death.

“The first night I was in the hospital I just felt awful, I was in so much pain,” Dundon told D’Arcy.

There were ten people in my room injecting me with morphine.

“I knew it was bad but I didn’t realise how bad it really was.”

Based in Wexford, Dundon owns and runs the Dunbrody Country House Hotel.

Dundon said that there’s a small chance of developing pulmonary embolisms as a result of any surgery.

“It’s a fleck of blood from the procedure that travels through your veins and sits in your lungs,” he explained.

The next step is that you can actually die. It either goes into your heart or your brain.

“It’s very serious… you could die.”

Life changes

Since the medical complication, Dundon has reassessed his life by cutting down on his travels to the US.

He’s doing less television work, has quit smoking and works out with his personal trainer three times a week, along with getting back into rowing.

“You told me the last time I saw you if I was still smoking you were never going to speak to me again,” Dundon told D’Arcy.

Dundon admitted that he didn’t realise at the time just how bad his condition was.

“I probably didn’t realise how serious it was. I was lying there for three and a half weeks and thinking about what I’m doing in life, how busy I am and what I’m missing in life.

“I probably needed that because I would have kept going at the speed I was going. Now, I think it’s important to sit back and analyse your life,” he said.

Dundon wrapped up his conversation with D’Arcy by saying that he’s passionate about Dunbrody House and that he’s happy to be spending time there with his family and being there for guests.

“Business is really good. I don’t need to do as much outside Dunbrody to keep it going.

I’m looking at doing more online stuff so I don’t have to travel outside Dunbrody.