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Last month, the star host of TF1 collapsed in front of his house in Carry-Le-Rouet. Victim of a cardiac arrest, he is quickly taken care of. In an exclusive interview, he tells us about this moving episode, with all the good humor that characterizes him.
It is 30 km from Marseille, in the pretty resort of Carry-Le-Rouet, that Jean-Pierre Foucault suffered a cardiac arrest. A very serious accident, which did not affect the good mood of the host … he who is already on his feet only a month after the incident.
Doctissimo: Can you tell us about the circumstances of your cardiac arrest?
Jean-Pierre Foucault: It is while getting off the plane in Marignane (Marseille airport, editor’s note), that I felt a strong chest tightness. I asked my wife for some water, but the pain didn’t go away. I still took the car towards the house, located about twenty minutes from the airport.
Once there, I couldn’t climb the few steps that separated me from the front door. I lay down on the ground, in the garden, and we called for help. They then told me not to move.
How did you know it was cardiac arrest?
It was the strong chest pain that immediately made me think of cardiac arrest. The other detail that alerted me was that I could no longer put on my shoes before taking the plane: my feet were swollen. I have also been wearing stents since 2019 (tiny tubes that keep the arteries open, editor’s note).
How were you taken care of?
Local firefighters rescued me. They offered to transfer me to three hospitals, but I chose the North hospital near my home. Once there, I saw only ceilings then I felt a kind of freshness. It was air conditioning and I had arrived in the operating room. She was already ready, it was great! (laughs)
The surgeons then uncorked a stent for me, then I was admitted to the intensive care unit. I then went up one floor and rested for 5-6 days.
“The care team revealed to me afterwards that I had suffered two minor cardiac arrests: the first in my garden, the other in the emergency room..”
How was your recovery?
I did three weeks of rehabilitation (sport, walking, etc.) at the Léon Bérard Hospital in Hyères, where the teams showed serious and constant attention.
“I also recommend this centre, which is quite remarkable, and its teams, even if I especially advise people to stay in good health! (laughs).”
And now, what do you do with your days?
I rest… and I work a minute and a half a day (laughs). This is my secret!