'Dog' Chapman Diagnosed with Pulmonary Embolism | "You’re a Ticking Time Bomb," Says Dr. Oz

Famous bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman recently revealed on The Dr. Oz Show that he was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in the heart — a condition in which one or more arteries have been blocked by blood and it can be life-threatening. He was hospitalized two weeks ago after experiencing chest pains. The 66-year-old Dog’s Most Wanted star, who has recently faced tragic loss after his 51-year-old wife, Beth, died three months ago due to cancer, believed that the chest pain was due to a broken heart, according to Daily Mail.

"You’re a ticking time bomb," Dr. Mehmet Oz told Dog at his Colorado home in a video shared on social media. "You’re not going to be here with the heart the way it is right now. Fear of death is normal. I’m surprised you don’t fear death when you’re chasing after convicts. But when you run away from doctor, that means you have to do your own doctoring." Dr. Oz told PEOPLE that the bounty hunting star was "denying care that he knew would be life-saving." He revealed that Chapman left the hospital against medical advice.

However, in the video Chapman said that even though he has said earlier when he was grieving that he was not afraid of dying, that is no longer true. "I, all the time, stick my foot in my mouth, and I said, after Beth left, I’m not afraid to die," said Chapman in the chat. "I take that back," according to the clip.

Even though he feels no fear while going after convicts, it is surprising to know that he was fearful about taking charge of his health on his own. However, what Dr. Oz said about his dependence on Beth could explain what must have been going on inside Chapman's mind.

"[Duane] was fearful,"  the doctor revealed. "Beth had been his north star. She was the one that would go with him and keep him balanced so he could deal with these things. Losing her took away his biggest support. I said, 'What would Beth do? What would she say to you? I don’t think she'd be happy with what you're doing. You're throwing away your life, you're throwing away your ability to parent your kids. You have to man up.' That's what she would say," he added.

Eventually, Chapman came around and said, "I don't want to die right now. I'm not afraid to die anymore, but I really didn't care for awhile if something would happen. I do care now."

He has adopted a healthy diet and is trying to stop smoking. He is also on blood thinners, according to PEOPLE. "Once this goes away, I am 100 percent. I’ve had fears. The blood clot is not a normal thing but it happens a lot, but I’m going to be 100 percent. I’m encouraged by it," he said.

The Chapman brood has had a hard few months as they struggled to cope with Beth's passing away. She had been a guiding light for her children as well and they too found themselves tottering. After Beth died on June 26, Chapman said that the kids are "barely making it."

"Each one copes differently, there is a few that really barely making it," Duane said. "We don’t know what to do. We haven't read, we weren't prepared. I lost my mother first, and when my mom passed away, I'm like, 'I wish dad would have died first, you know, 'cause I love my mommy.' So I went to them and said, 'I'm so sorry that I didn't die first and mom did'," he told PEOPLE last month.

Even though he is apologetic for surviving and feels guilt, his children need him to be there for him. Like a good father, he has to be their rock in the absence of their fiery mother.

Watch his interview:

References: 

https://people.com/tv/duane-dog-chapman-kids-barely-making-it-after-beth-death/

https://people.com/health/duane-chapman-diagnosed-with-pulmonary-embolism/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RbBAQd3PQ0#action=share

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7514109/Dog-Bounty-Hunters-Duane-Chapman-reveals-life-threatening-pulmonary-embolism-diagnosis.html?fbclid=IwAR0-wwbKcK1ry3U2RvwVmcaTR9OPDOOY_rHvn318QvdpkZth3LP1P-Gca_8