Ex-Wales prop held his heart after life-saving surgery

Former Wales rugby international Rhys Thomas described the "crazy" and "very special" moment he held his own heart after a life-saving transplant operation. The 43-year-old had faced heart problems since a minor heart attack in 2006 while playing for Dragons RFC. A serious heart attack in 2012 prompted him to receive a battery-powered left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as his condition deteriorated over the years.

After spending nearly a decade on the UK transplant list, Thomas moved to his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, in 2024, stating that the UK system "wasn't working" for him. Just 18 months after relocating, he received the life-changing news of three donor hearts being available on a single day in April, with doctors informing him that without the heart transplant, he might have had only two weeks to live.

Reflecting on his journey, Thomas admitted he had made peace with the idea of death, grappling with fears about his family during his health decline. "I feel very, very blessed to be here," he said of his survival and the experience of receiving a new heart. Thomas held his own heart during recovery—an emotional moment he described as "crazy" and filled with gratitude.

The heart attack during a Scarlets training session in 2012 significantly changed his life, leading to his retirement from rugby and an emergency quadruple bypass surgery he was fortunate to survive. As his health worsened over the years, Thomas used the LVAD, which required careful management and frequent reflections on his identity and purpose as former athlete.

In November 2024, Thomas, unsatisfied with being deemed "not sick enough" for a transplant in the UK, made the pivotal decision to move to South Africa with his partner, leaving behind his adult children in Wales. After joining the transplant list in Cape Town, he faced a rapid decline in health and spent time preparing mentally for the possibility of dying.

When he received the phone call about donor hearts, he mobilized his family to be with him as he anticipated the surgery. He described the experience leading up to the procedure as nerve-wracking yet filled with peace.

The successful six-hour surgery eventually introduced a new donor heart into his body, quickly resuming normal function. Thomas woke up in the hospital two days later to find his children at his bedside, overwhelmed with feelings of euphoria and gratitude for the second chance at life.

He spent four weeks recovering, during which time he encountered challenges but ultimately cherished the experience of holding his own heart. "It was a moment I will never forget," he stated, expressing how it symbolized survival and gratitude.

Now back at home, Thomas has noticed changes in his palate and is focused on his recovery. He is also preparing for impending fatherhood, as his partner is expecting a baby in August, and he expresses excitement about experiencing parenthood anew with his fresh perspective on life.