Former Premier League boss Iain Dowie, 59, admits he is ‘very lucky’ to be alive after suffering a cardiac arrest during a spin class as he opens up on ‘terrifying’ scenes in front of his wife

Former Premier League boss Iain Dowie has revealed he suffered a ‘terrifying’ cardiac arrest during a spinning class and is ‘very lucky’ to be alive. 

Dowie, 59, managed Crystal Palace between 2003 and 2006 and has also been known for spells with Charlton, QPR and Hull City, but has not coached a team since that ill-fated spell with the Tigers in 2010 that saw them relegated.

In recent years the former Northern Ireland striker has worked as a pundit and was speaking pitchside for the BBC for Larne’s game against Coleraine in the NIFL Premiership when he opened up on his horror episode.

‘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 revealed he has since been fitted with a defibrillator in his heart – as he spoke of the ‘terrifying’ scenes that played out with his wife watching and admitted he was fortunate to survive. 

‘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 had been speaking at the Larne game as he works as football relationships director at the club – being present as his side retained the Irish Premiership title.

Dowie – whose last managerial stint came with Hull City in 2010 – admitted he was ‘lucky’ to be alive after the episode

Dowie is known for his three year stint with Crystal Palace and an ill-fated time as assistant manager to Newcastle when they were relegated in 2009

As a player, Dowie netted 172 times from 573 appearances, turning out for Luton, West Ham, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.

His first role in management came in a brief stint as caretaker of his old club QPR before he was named assistant manager for Oldham Athletic – before he took over as first team coach in 2002 after the sacking of Mick Wadsworth.

He later enjoyed his best spell as a manger for Crystal Palace for three years – where he secured promotion to the Premier League in the 2003-04 season. But after relegation followed and the club failed to go up again via the play-offs, he left by mutual consent.

Dowie then had stints with Charlton, Coventry, QPR and then becoming assistant manager to Alan Shearer at Newcastle in 2009, but being unable to prevent the club from being relegated.

He then suffered another relegation after replacing Phil Brown as Hull City boss the following season.