Former Premier League footballer Neil Ruddock claims he has "cheated death" after undergoing weight-loss surgery.

The 54-year-old, who played for the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, shed seven stone following the gastric sleeve procedure.

Ruddock, who lives in Ashford, says his weight soared to 27st during lockdown as he came to rely on the ease of food delivery apps.

Such was the weight gain that the former top-flight defender - affectionately nicknamed 'Razor' - began to fear for his health and ultimately his life.

"I struggled during Covid, that was a big factor, just sitting on my backside at home getting bigger and bigger," he told MailOnline in an interview about the operation in September and his weight loss.

"I was eating loads and loads of takeaways, making bacon sandwiches just for something to do.

"I feared for my life, definitely.

"I know a lot of people will read this and say I've cheated, and I tell you what I did. I cheated death.

"The way I was going, who knows how long I could continue like that."

Ruddock, who since retirement has made TV appearances on I'm A Celebrity and Celebrity MasterChef, credits the decision to go under the knife to a chance meeting with fellow reality star James 'Arg' Argent.

"It was just fate that I met Arg when I did at a charity football match," Razor said.

"I knew I had to have it done after seeing how great he looked.

"I can still eat what I want but now I can only eat about four mouthfuls.

"So, when I'm at my local curry house, I'll order three dishes and have a bite of each. I get the same satisfaction because it fills me up."

He explained how he had two thirds of his stomach removed so that when he eats, he can no longer over-indulge as his stomach is smaller.

Razor described how he would binge on McDonald's when he wasn't even hungry and wolf down a large Big Mac meal, Filet-O-Fish, cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake.

The dad-of-four was diagnosed with a heart problem while appearing alongside fellow former pros on ITV show Harry's Heroes in 2020.

He was later fitted with a pacemaker and spoke during the show with wife Leah about his health concerns.