Cycling: Eddy Merckx underwent emergency surgery for intestinal obstruction, his life is not in danger

Le Cannibale a perdu beaucoup de poids suite à cette intervention, mais ses jours n’ont jamais été en danger. MAXPPP – Jean-François FREY

L’ex-champion belge a pu rentrer chez lui où il se repose après quelques jours d’hospitalisation.

Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx underwent emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction at the end of last March but his life is not in danger, reported Friday evening the daily Het Laatste Nieuws on its website.

According to the Flemish newspaper, on the night of March 26 to 27, Merckx, 78 years old, was transported by his wife to the emergency room of the Jette university hospital, near Brussels , after complaining of intestinal pain. During the night, he was operated on for an intestinal obstruction.

A meter of intestine should have been removed

More than a meter of intestine should have been removed. The five-time winner of the Tour de France, considered the best rider in history, told Het Laatste Nieuws that he had suffered particularly that night.

The operation went well and Eddy Merckx was able to return home where he is resting after a few days in hospital.

The Cannibal lost a lot of weight following this intervention, but his life was never in danger, the Belgian media further clarified.