Jeremy Clarkson has praised the “tremendous” staff at an Oxford hospital after he underwent emergency heart surgery.

The former Top Gear revealed in a Sunday Times column this weekend that he underwent the procedure after experiencing a “sudden deterioration” in his health.

He spoke of how a swim while on holiday in the Indian Ocean appeared to cause him difficulties using the stairs.

This meant that when the 64-year-old returned home he recognised that a “sudden deterioration began to gather pace”.

Jeremy Clarkson was rushed to hospital.Jeremy Clarkson was rushed to hospital. (Image: Ian West / PA Wire)

Mr Clarkson was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford via an ambulance, where a heart attack was ruled out after he had an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests and X-rays.

He said he then went to an “operating theatre”, after further checks, and doctors said he was perhaps “days away” from getting very ill.

"Now, thanks to all those tremendous people at the John Radcliffe in Oxford and all of their extraordinary machines, here I am wondering what water tastes like and if it’s possible to make celery interesting,” said Mr Clarkson.

"Because I’m going to try to prove that ageing doesn’t have to be gradual, then sudden"It can be gradual and then gradual some more."

A stent, which can save lives and stop future heart attacks by improving blood flow to the heart, was fitted in around two hours.