Ben Askren shares emotional hospital update after double lung transplant

Ben Askren shares hospital video after lung transplant, says he “only died four times” during severe pneumonia battle.

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has broken his silence after undergoing a life-saving double lung transplant, sharing an emotional update from his hospital bed.

The 40-year-old athlete revealed he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia that nearly took his life—saying he “only died four times” during the harrowing ordeal.

In a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday, Askren admitted he doesn’t remember anything from June. He learned about the gravity of his condition by reading his wife Amy’s journal, calling the experience “like watching my own funeral.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ben Askren (@benaskren)

At one point, his heart stopped for 20 seconds. “Not ideal, I don’t know if you guys know that,” he joked, showing glimpses of his trademark humor despite the life-threatening circumstances.

Askren also shared he lost 50 pounds over 45 days, weighing in at 147 lbs for the first time since his teenage wrestling days.

The wrestling and MMA communities rallied around the former champion, something he called “amazing” and “deeply impactful.” “The love I felt from everybody was the thing that stuck with me the most,” he said tearfully.

Until now, Askren’s wife Amy had been sharing updates throughout his health journey. Now, the fighter is on the mend and grateful to be alive, telling fans he’s getting stronger every day.

Askren’s update comes weeks after reports confirmed he had been placed on the transplant list amid his pneumonia battle.