‘Wasn’t my time’ – Former Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie lucky to be alive after suffering cardiac arrest
Former Premier League manager Iain Dowie insists he is 'very lucky' to be alive having suffered a cardiac arrest at his local gym.
The 59-year-old, who had spells in charge of Crystal Palace, Charlton and Hull in the top-flight, collapsed during a spin class.
And he has been quick to thank those for saving his life, claiming it 'wasn't his time' to go.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "I went to a spin class and don't remember too much more. I had a big cardiac arrest, unfortunately.
"Lots of people looked after me and did some great things in the gym, then the ambulance looked after me and I ended up in hospital for a good few days."
Dowie then opened up on the 'terrifying' scenes which his wife witnessed first-hand, as he revealed his heart has been fitted with a defibrillator.
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He continued: "I've been brilliant since and the heart is in good shape.
"I've got a little thing, an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator] fitted that I hope will keep me going for another 20 years.
"It was probably more terrifying for my wife watching.
"But my view is I'm one of those lads who looks forward and I've been very, very lucky.
"I was in the right place to have it and perhaps it just wasn't my time."
Dowie enjoyed a lengthy 16-year playing career before hanging up the boots in 2001.
He enjoyed success at Southampton, West Ham, and Palace before retiring at QPR.
The ex-Coventry boss also scored 12 goals in 59 caps for Northern Ireland's national team between 1990 and 1999.
After three spells managing in the Premier League, Dowie hasn't held a head coach role since leaving Hull in 2010.
Dowie currently works as Northern Irish side Larne's Football Relationships manager, where he was present at Inver Park on Saturday to watch them clinch a second successive Premiership title.
