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TV great Sir David Attenborough was tonight recovering from emergency heart surgery to have a pacemaker fitted.

The 87-year-old documentary maker was forced to cancel a tour of Australia at the last minute today after his cardiologist rushed him into hospital after telling him the procedure was needed as soon as possible.

A source close to the star said: “It was very serious and this heart operation could not wait.

"David was checked out and doctors found a heart defect.

“He was then quickly taken in for the operation after he was told he needed a pacemaker.

“Everything is on hold but now he just needs some rest and he should make a full recovery.”

A BBC spokesman revealed an Australian speaking tour, due to start next week had to be cancelled.

The spokesman said: “It’s a minor procedure but it meant that he cannot go on a 27-hour flight to Australia.

“He’s very disappointed that he can’t fulfil the tour but it’s nothing to be alarmed about. He’s seeing his doctor now but he’s still his lively self.”

Attenborough’s lawyer Michael Ridley suggested the veteran presenter was in his usual no nonsense frame of mind, despite the operation.

He said: “We are all hoping it is very straightforward, as pacemaker operations are these days.

“I was chatting to him yesterday and he was in perfectly good spirits, he was very disappointed to cancel the tour and let those people down, but in himself he was absolutely fine. He is frustrated he had to go into hospital.”

Tonight a BBC source confirmed the operation had been successful and Sir David was now recovering.

The source added: “Doctors are very happy with his progress.”

The news of the urgent surgery first broke in Australia when the star cancelled the sell-out tour called Sir David Attenborough - A Life on Earth.

It was due to start a week today in Brisbane before heading off to Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Promoters are hoping that once Attenborough recovers from the surgery the visit can be rescheduled.

Sir David, whose groundbreaking 60-year career has included Blue Planet and Frozen Planet, recently narrated and presented the BBC1 hit Africa.

Danny Cohen, BBC Director of Television said: “We all wish Sir David a full and strong recovery.”

Sir David also presented a new BBC Radio 4 series, Tweet Of The Day, devoted to birdsong.

The wildlife star said recently that he had no intention of doing less, saying: “I’ve been broadcasting for 60 years.

"I don’t want to slow down. Retirement would be so boring.”

Pacemaker operations: Analysis by Dr Doireann Maddock, sernior cardic nurse for British Heart Foundation

A pacemaker is a small battery-operated device that fits in your chest.

It is smaller than a matchbox, weighs less than 50g, sits under your collar bone and sends electrical impulses to produce a heartbeat.

This is one of the most common types of heart surgery – around 25,000 of us have it done each year.

It is usually carried out under local anaesthetic and takes around an hour. Most patients leave hospital the next day.

You may feel tired after, but most get back to normal fairly quickly.

It is normally advised you avoid strenuous activities for three to four weeks. But then you should be able to get back to doing sports.

It’s natural to feel worried before any type of procedure, but your doctor will be able to put your mind at ease about your pacemaker.