Man's gut-wrenching final words to family before he died during operation on BBC Hospital

BBC Hospital has shared the heart-wrenching final words of an 81-year-old before he died during an operation.

In a devastating episode filmed at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Joe, a retired painter and decorator, suffered a heart attack that left him with a hole in his heart.

He had to wait three weeks to have surgery while a temporary balloon pump kept him alive.

Joe said the heart attack was 'out of the blue' and was a shock as he had always been fit and healthy.

Joe told doctors his final words to his family before the operation (BBC Two / Hospital)

Consultant Cardiologist Dr Suneil Aggarwal told Joe that there was a 10-20 per cent chance that he would not make it.

The doctor added that even if they were successful, it was 50/50 as to whether he would be in a good state after surgery.

Joe said: "They've all been very kind and pushed the boat out and given me the best attention I can have. Well chuffed. I'll be even more chuffed on Saturday if I can get out of bed, done. Fingers crossed. I think they feel quite hopeful.

"I'm nervous but hopeful."

The 81-year-old looked at photos of his family before being taken into the operating room (BBC Two / Hospital)

Joe was so nervous about the operation that he asked his wife and family not to come to hospital with him.

He said: "I want to get through this because I have a lot of people who love me and I love them. So it's important that I battle on.

"I'm lucky enough to say I've had and lived a good enough sort of life.

"I don't want to lose it so I keep battling and hope for the best."

On the day of his operation, Joe said: "You can say a few hours from now it's one way or the other. Please god it goes the right way.

"I've got to the stage now where I'm here, this is D-Day, this is the moment."

Joe then passed on his heartbreaking final words to the doctors before he was wheeled into the operating room, saying: "Say t'rah to my family."

Surgeons discovered during the operation that Joe's heart was more damaged than expected.

His blood pressure dramatically dropped, and his heart was not able to pump blood around his body.

The team decided to stop, after Dr Aggarwal said it was an 'unrecoverable position'.

Series 5 of Hospital continues Thursday March 5 at 9pm on BBC Two.