Former UFC fighter Ben Askren shared the harrowing experience of being placed on a ventilator after developing pneumonia from a bacterial infection, before receiving a double lung transplant.
The 40-year-old, who retired from MMA in 2019, was hospitalised in Wisconsin in late May and has lost 50lb (22.7kg) over the span of 45 days.
In an Instagram video posted from his hospital bed, Askren revealed that he has no memory of the period between May 28 and July 2 due to the severity of his illness.
He recounted reading through his wife’s journal, which described his near-death experience. “I died four times, the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,” he said.
Askren competed in the UFC's welterweight division. He revealed he currently weighed 147lb, joking that he hadn’t been that light since his teenage years.
Despite the grim circumstances, Askren expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans and the wrestling community, saying it felt as though he had “his own funeral” while still alive.
His wife, Amy, noted on social media that her husband had been in perfect health just five weeks prior to his sudden illness. The couple has three children.
Jake Paul, who defeated Askren in a 2021 boxing match, also made a public plea for donations to assist with Askren’s recovery.
Askren is widely regarded as one of the best American wrestlers of his generation, competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and was a welterweight champion in both Bellator and One Championship.
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