Arnold Schwarzenegger breaks his silence after emergency open-heart surgery

The toughest of all action heroes is on his way to a full recovery.

Fans and friends were shocked when it was reported by world news that Arnold Schwarzenegger - action star, bodybuilding legend and ex-Governor of California - had undergone an emergency open heart surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on the 29th of March after a procedure to replace a valve in his heart had gone wrong, placing his life in danger.

Just days later, the actor is deemed to be on the road to a full recovery, reported RadarOnline on the 2nd of April.

Swartzenegger, 70, has twitted his fans and followers, reassuring them in the words of one of his most famous characters The Terminator: "I'm back!"

The ex-Governor had been hospitalized for a catheter valve replacement, which is a surgical procedure effected through a small aperture in an artery when he suffered some complications.

“I went to sleep expecting to wake up with a small incision and woke up with a big one – but guess what? I woke up, and that’s something to be thankful for.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold (@Schwarzenegger), April 2, 2018

The innovative and experimental procedure and the valve replacement failed, and to save his life the surgeons opened his chest for a more classical hands-on approach.

In his post, the actor went on to express his gratitude and appreciation for the staff and physicians of the hospital for their care and excellence.

The former Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia has suffered a variety of heart ailments over the years, which some have attributed to the use of anabolic steroids which were still in current use when he started his career, and their side effects unknown.

Schwarzenegger has disclosed that his difficulties stem from a congenital heart defect and that he had his first aortic valve replaced at the beginning of his bodybuilding career.

The actor has thanked all his fans, fans and followers for the outpouring of support and affection which he believes has helped him through the last few days.