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Monty Don has opened up about the moment when he realised he was "going to die" after suffering a serious health scare. The Gardeners' World star explained that a health ordeal that occurred in 2008 made him "terribly aware" of his own mortality.

Monty, who recently returned to our screenswith Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens, had to take a leave of absence from Gardeners' World at the time after suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or a "mini-stroke".

It seems that the experience led to something of a revelation for Monty, who admitted that "all the clichés are true". He told The Times: "A stroke makes you terribly aware of your own mortality. I wasn't well so I couldn't do much. I couldn't drive. In a way, it was a good time because I had to stop."

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Montycontinued: "It was the first moment I realised that, yes, you are going to die. All the clichés are true — the things that matter are love, family, friends, a nice glass of wine or cup of tea.

"Not fame, not fortune. Nobody on their deathbed is going to say, 'I wish I had been more famous'."

What started as a "funny feeling" led to Monty suffering from what the NHS described as a "warning sign" that you're at an increased risk of stroke, which is a condition that can cause "permanent disability".

According to Hello!, Monty opted to ignore the unusual feeling and took a walk around the grounds of his home. Once he sought medicaladvice, however, it was determined that he'd had a TIA.

In 2009, he told The Guardian: "I was so exhausted I did not know whether I was coming or going. I remember waking up feeling strange and dizzy.

"I said to my wife Sarah, 'God, something funny is happening; I may be having a stroke.' We weren't thinking: this is a disaster. I said, 'Hang on, I can move my fingers.'

"I remember thinking, 'Oh, get a grip, you're fine'. I turned to Sarah and said, 'Hold me because I think I'm dying and, if I am, I want to die in your arms'."

Monty reportedly had a blockage to the brain that had impacted the supply of blood. The NHS mirrors this in its description of a TIA, noting that this disruption leads to a lack of oxygen to the brain.

People who experience a transient ischaemic attack may experience stroke-like symptoms, including visual and speech disturbances and numbness in the legs, face and arms.

You can learn more about the condition on the NHS website.

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