Allan Endresz reveals he almost died after a heart attack

Alligator Blood’s former owner and colorful racing identity Allan Endresz has escaped death after being flown to a top Melbourne hospital despite suffering a massive heart attack.

Endresz, known in racing for previously owning Alligator Blood and for legally lobbying to have the star horse reinstated as a Magic Millions winner, was minutes away from death last week.

Feeling unwell in his hometown of Albury, Endresz made the life-saving decision to drive himself to hospital, where he was quickly diagnosed with a “widow maker” heart attack with complete blockage of the heart’s largest artery.

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Had he made the decision to go home to rest rather than go to hospital – where he was quickly flown to Melbourne to undergo life-saving surgery to have a stent inserted into his artery – he would have Specialists told 60-year-old Endresz he would not have survived.

“I was in my office in Albury and the next thing I knew, the stabbing pain shot through the top of my chest, right across my shoulder and down the side of my arm,” Endresz told Racenet.

“For a minute I thought I could shake it off.

“I thought about going home, having a cup of tea and resting.

“The doctor later told me that if I had done that I would be dead.”

“I drove myself to Albury Hospital, they took me in straight away, started treatment and called the helicopter.

Allan Endresz (center) survived a heart attack. Image: Steve Holland.

“I got on the helicopter and when I got to Melbourne I had the strange feeling that I was James Bond flying around with bright lights everywhere.

“The paramedic in the helicopter didn’t think I would survive.

“They landed on the roof of the hospital in Melbourne and I was in the main operating area and they sorted everything out and put a long stent in me.”

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Endresz said the health crisis was a big wake-up call, especially considering he had no history of heart problems.

Endresz was allowed to go home from the hospital after five days and said he was recovering well.

He said he would take good care of his health but would continue his legal battle in the alligator blood case and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission would launch a new stewards’ investigation into the horse’s disqualification from the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

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“I will move on with my life, but this heart attack was a big wake-up call,” Endresz said.

“I really thought about the impact it would have on my children and my family if I had left (died) too soon.”

Alligator Blood, the seven-time Group 1 winner, is currently on the long-term injury list after suffering a pastern injury while working at the track in January.