Sonny Bill Williams says open-heart surgery was successful

Sonny Bill Williams said he has undergone successful open-heart surgery after doctors discovered a congenital heart defect during a checkup following neck surgery. The former rugby star described the diagnosis and recovery in a video posted to YouTube, saying the condition had gone undetected throughout his sporting career. Williams said he had not known about the defect, which affected his aortic valve. He said doctors found it during a follow-up appointment after his neck operation. The detection prompted surgery, which he described as successful, and he said he wanted to raise awareness about the importance of heart checks. In the video, Williams recounted a difficult recovery, including hallucinations after the operation and a moment on the second day when he feared he might not survive. He described the experience as the hardest of his life. His wife, Alana, also spoke about the emotional strain and fear surrounding the operation. Surgeon Michael O’Keefe said Williams’ fitness had helped him compensate for the defect while competing at an elite level. Williams said he had noticed toward the end of his 20s that he could not get as fit as before, but had not connected the...