Critically ill Jeff Fenech facing emergency heart surgery

Jeff Fenech, Australia’s greatest boxer, has contracted a heart infection and is facing emergency surgery in a Bangkok hospital, where he had travelled to train a group of boxers. SEE THE VIDEO

• Jeff Fenech critically ill: ‘My lungs are gone, I’m in pain’

Jeff Fenech, Australia’s greatest boxer, has contracted a heart infection and is facing emergency surgery in a Bangkok hospital.

The shock development comes just a day after The Sunday Telegraph revealed Fenech was fighting for life with pneumonia.

Former boxer Jeff Fenech, pictured with wife Suzee last year, is battling pneumonia and a lung infection after becoming critically ill in Thailand.

Fenech had X-rays on Saturday before being rushed into surgery due to an infected valve leading to his heart.

When The Daily Telegraph spoke with Fenech on Saturday, the Hall of Fame boxer was in severe pain and coughing up blood.

Fenech’s supporters are by his bedside offering him all the support they can. Picture: Facebook/Fight Call Out

His wife Suzee flew to Thailand on Saturday afternoon to be by his bedside.

Former Channel 9 chief executive David Gyngell, high-profile businessman Mark Bouris and Sydney scaffold and construction giant Lou Zivanovic are supporting Fenech.

A three-time world champion, Fenech was rushed to intensive care on Friday night with severe pneumonia. He was later told by doctors he was close to dying.

Sounding weak, Fenech told The Daily Telegraph he was now facing another medical complication — heart surgery to unblock a valve, unless antibiotics can deal with the infection first.

Fenech said each night he feared he would not wake up the next morning. Picture: Facebook/Fight Call Out

Fenech, 55, is in additional pain through his issues with his shoulder and legs along with a lung infection. He is also having breathing issues.

“It’s getting worse,” Fenech said. “I may have to have heart surgery.”

Fenech is desperate to recover and return home for the wedding of his daughter, Jessica, on Saturday week.

“Everyone is praying for him,” Suzee said. “He is in good hands. He is fit, it’s not like he is overweight or had bad health.”

Fenech travelled to Thailand for a training camp with boxer Brock Jarvis. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Also in the training camp was boxer Nader Hamdan.

Fenech arrived in Thailand last Tuesday with about 10 of his boxers, including Brock Jarvis and Nader Hamdan, for a training camp.

He didn’t leave his hotel room for the first three days before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

His boxers are remaining by his bedside for support and are trying to keep their trainer relaxed and calm.

Fenech has not slept for seven days and is unsure when he will be discharged.

He was due home on Monday but that now appears highly unlikely.

Fenech’s long-term friend, Joe Molinari, general manager at Combined Wines, is also in Thailand supporting the former triple world boxing champion.

The Fenech family is desperate to get Jeff home ahead of daughter Jessica’s wedding next week.

Speaking with The Sunday Telegraph, Fenech said: “I have never been in this pain in my life. Every night I have been here I think I’m not going to wake up tomorrow.

“The pain, brother, you don’t know. I can’t sleep, I’m in that much pain, I can’t roll, I can’t move. I am coughing up blood.”

On Friday, Fenech was taken directly to intensive care with a high temperature and low blood pressure.

Late last week he complained he could not move his arms.