Former Essendon star Dean Wallis recovering from lifesaving surgery after heart attack
Dual Essendon premiership player Dean Wallis is recovering in hospital after suffering a major heart attack in regional Victoria.
Wallis was rushed to the local hospital in Echuca, in Victoria's north, before being transferred to Bendigo, where he had emergency surgery. He had been in the area for work.
Aged 52, Wallis' cardiac event occurred just days after cricket legend Shane Warne and politician Kimberley Kitching both died suddenly of a heart attack at the same age.
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Essendon's Dean Wallis fends off Tony Lockett. The Age
According to The Age, sources close to Wallis said he was recovering well.
Wallis played 127 games under Kevin Sheedy between 1987 and 2001. Due to his aggressive style of play, Wallis became known as one of the AFL's toughest defenders.
He later returned as an assistant under James Hird, also joining the coaching ranks at St Kilda and Fremantle.
Wallis had a falling out with Essendon in 2020 when he criticised the club's culture and directions.
However, it appears the two parties are back on friendly terms with Wallis attending the Bombers' Hall of Fame function last month.
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