The mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner suffers from a congenital heart defect, a fact that has been disclosed in his new book, “Lebenszeit,” which he wrote with his wife, Diane Messner. Speaking to Spiegel, the 82-year-old Messner described collapsing at a reception, after which he was operated on two days later and fitted with a pacemaker. It was following this incident that he discovered he had this congenital heart condition. Messner explained that the defect involves heart valve insufficiency, causing 20 percent of the blood not to flow in the intended direction.
He recalled that he had experienced dizziness as a child and once collapsed in a bus. Nevertheless, this heart sustained him throughout his long life, allowing him to undertake more than 100 expeditions. When reflecting on his past, Messner stated that he feels above all astonishment.
