Studio 10’s Tristan MacManus gets emotional as he describes his first heart attack

Studio 10 host Tristan MacManus sparked concern over the weekend when he admitted to suffering two heart attacks by age 38.

And the revelations kept coming on Monday, when the former Dancing With The Stars judge lifted the lid on his battles with mental health and alcohol. 

Appearing on Studio 10, the Irishman became visibly emotional as he recalled the circumstances surrounding his first heart attack at age 26, saying he was depressed at the time and ‘really didn’t care’ about his well-being. 

Tristan, who was working as a dancer in Las Vegas at the time, told co-host Sarah Harris: ‘It came at a time when I was very down’.  

The performer’s voice suddenly cracked as raw emotion washed over his face. 

‘I was down and I didn’t know what it was,’ he continued, adding: ‘People were looking at me [thinking], “Oh jeez, he has a great life”. And I did… but at the same time, I just hated it, hated myself. I just hated everything.’   

Studio 10’s Tristan MacManus, 38, became visibly emotional on Monday’s show when he recalled having his first heart attack at age 26 

‘So, to a point, when that first [heart attack] happened I didn’t really care… I didn’t really care what was going to happen,’ Tristan confessed, prompting his co-host to cry out in shock. 

The father-of-two, who suffered the heart attack mid-way through a live dance performance, conceded that he wasn’t taking care of his health at the time.  

‘I didn’t take drugs, nothing like that. Granted, I’d had a drinking problem. I did have that and I knew that… But I didn’t sleep, I didn’t look after myself because I didn’t have anything to look after, in my eyes,’ he admitted.  

I didn't look after myself because I didn't have anything to look after, in my eyes': Tristan admitted he was depressed at the time and 'really didn't care' about his well-being

I didn’t look after myself because I didn’t have anything to look after, in my eyes’: Tristan admitted he was depressed at the time and ‘really didn’t care’ about his well-being

The television presenter suffered his second heart attack during a soccer game just a few weeks after his 36th birthday two years ago.   

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph’s Confidential on Sunday, the former professional dancer said he is hyper-vigilant of his health as ‘nothing is scarier than not seeing’ his kids grow up.

Tristan is married to filmmaker Tahyna Tozzi, and the couple who are expecting their third child in April, are proud parents to daughter Echo, four, and son Oison, one. 

Ordeal: Attacks: The TV presenter suffered his second heart attack just a few weeks after his 36th birthday, two years ago

Ordeal: Attacks: The TV presenter suffered his second heart attack just a few weeks after his 36th birthday, two years ago

With the possibility of another heart attack in the future, Tristan told Confidential that he’s more conscious of his health, as ‘everything changes when you have kids’. 

‘There will always be that fear. I couldn’t think of anything else that would be more scary than not seeing my kids grow up,’ he said.    

He went on to urge other men to get their hearts checked and be mindful of their health, as it’s not just those who are unhealthy who can fall victim to heart attacks.  

For information and resources on heart health, please visit The Heart Foundation

For confidential support contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.  

Family: Tristan told Confidential on Sunday that he's conscious of his health, as 'everything changes when you have kids'. Tristan is pictured with wife Tahyna Tozzi, 34, and their children, daughter Echo, four, and son Oison, one. They are expecting their third child in April

Family: Tristan told Confidential on Sunday that he’s conscious of his health, as ‘everything changes when you have kids’. Tristan is pictured with wife Tahyna Tozzi, 34, and their children, daughter Echo, four, and son Oison, one. They are expecting their third child in April