Allan Endresz, former owner of Alligator Blood, reveals heart attack scare

Alligator Blood’s former owner Allan Endresz was only minutes away from death when he had a massive heart attack last week, but a split-second decision saved his life.

Alligator Blood’s former owner and colourful racing identity Allan Endresz has cheated death after being flown to a top Melbourne hospital while having a massive heart attack.

Endresz, who is well known in racing for formerly owning Alligator Blood and for his legal battles to try to get the star horse reinstated as a Magic Millions winner, was only minutes away from death last week.

Feeling unwell in his hometown of Albury, Endresz made the lifesaving decision to drive himself to hospital where he was quickly diagnosed as having a “widow-maker” heart attack, with full blockage in the biggest artery in the heart.

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Had he made the decision to go home to rest rather than head to hospital – where he was quickly flown to Melbourne for a lifesaving procedure where a stent was placed inside his artery – specialists told 60-year-old Endresz he would not have survived.

“I was at my office in Albury and next thing the sharp pain ripped through the top of my chest, right down my shoulder and down the side of my arm,” Endresz told Racenet.

“I thought for a minute that I could shake it off.

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

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

“I drove myself to Albury Hospital, they rushed me straight in and started treating me and they called the helicopter in.

Allan Endresz (centre) has survived a heart attack. Picture: Steve Holland.

“I got on the helicopter and when I came into Melbourne I had this weird sense that I was James Bond flying around with bright lights everywhere.

“The paramedic in the helicopter didn’t think I was going to survive.

“They landed on the roof of the hospital in Melbourne and I was in the main surgery area and they cleared things up and put one long stent in me.”

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Endresz said the health scare was a major wake-up call, especially considering he had no prior medical history of heart issues.

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

He said he will take good care of his health but will push on with his legal battle with the Alligator Blood case, with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission opening a new stewards’ inquiry into the horse’s disqualification from the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

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“I’m going to keep living my life, but this heart attack has been a huge wake-up call,” Endresz said.

“I have really reflected on the impact on my kids and my family had I gone (died) too early.”

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

Originally published as Allan Endresz, former owner of Alligator Blood, reveals heart attack scare