Derryn Hinch reveals he died on operating table

Media legend Derryn Hinch reveals he has lived 13 years longer than he should have and embarked on a political career after he “carked it” on an operating table in 2011.

Media legend Derryn Hinch reveals that he died on an operating table back in 2011. Picture: David Caird

Media legend Derryn Hinch has revealed he died on the operating table.

Hinch, who turns 80, on Friday (February 9) said he was grateful for every day after almost dying while undergoing a liver transplant in July 2011.

“I found out from my surgeon, Bob Jones, that I died on the table and they managed to get me back,” he said.

“I am now living 13 years longer than I should have because I carked it.

“Since then, I have had a political career, I have been a senator. I have been in the business of journalism for more than 60 years.

“I started when I was 15 in New Zealand and bought my first typewriter and now, here I am, still writing.

“I have invited Bob to celebrate my 80th and he said ‘I hope you are inviting me because without me you would not be here,’.”

Derryn Hinch said he has lived 13 years longer than he should have after dying on an operating table. Picture: Jason Edwards

Hinch, whose partner of six years, his ex-fiance, Lynda Stoner, will join him in Melbourne to mark his milestone birthday, described himself as “almost” semi-retired.

“There is an old joke that inside every old person is a young person saying, ‘what the bleep happened?’, and I can see that is true,” he said.

“I used to hate the word lucky, but I have been lucky. I have had a fantastic life.

“I am now almost in semi-retirement, I suppose.

“I would still like to be in politics or radio or television, but that has not happened. I am still writing and I am 50,000 words into my next book.

“I am enjoying life. I really have been lucky.”