EX-EASTENDERS star Ross Kemp has revealed his terrifying near-death experience.
Speaking ahead of the premiere of his new Sky show, the 58-year-old actor opened up about the time he blacked out during an underwater dive.
Ross Kemp has opened up about his near-death experience
Ross recalled the moment he suffered from a “hypocapnia hit”, where you accidentally breathe in too much carbon dioxide during a dive.
He said the horror unfolded when he was exploring a wreck in the Plymouth Sound.
The former EastEnders star told the Mirror: “Literally, the black-out was for half a second. But that was enough for my lungs to feel as if they were on fire.
“You don’t realise that until you actually get out onto a boat. Then you realise your lungs are like lit up a Christmas tree.”
Ross said at the time he was trying to free a pipe.
Recalling what hypocapnia felt like, he said: “It was a little bit of a spark and then I just blacked out.
“I thought removing the pipes was like trying to rock a tree stump out of my back garden.
“But the amount of C02 which was seeping into my system was basically clouding my judgement, and I forgot completely that I was actually not in my backyard.”
The star’s new show Ross Kemp: Deep Sea Treasure Hunter will hit screens on Monday.
The series follows the action man as he takes a deep dive into the history of Britain and swims the wreckage of the Mary Rose in a TV first.
Speaking about his near-death experience, Ross said he didn’t realise how lucky he had been until he got his feet back on dry land.
He said: “I was still a little bit strange when I went back and lay on the bed in the hotel room. I made sure I didn’t fall asleep for five hours.
“I was just looking at the ceiling of the Novotel thinking: ‘That was f****** close.'”
Ross added: “Diving may appear very easy, but it isn’t. It’s extremely technical. If it goes wrong, it can go seriously wrong.”
