15 Dec 2017

Heart scare for top NZ shot putter

12:11 pm on 15 December 2017

The New Zealand shotputter Jacko Gill is all but certain to miss next year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast following a life-threatening heart scare.

The 22-year-old Aucklander spent eight days in hospital after waking up with a sharp pain in his chest two weeks ago.

Jacko Gill competing at the world athletic champs in London in August.

Jacko Gill competing at the world athletic champs in London in August. Photo: Photosport

Doctor's confirmed he has Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.

Athletics New Zealand high performance director Scott Goodman says Gill came down with a virus a few weeks ago and was advised by doctors to ease off training which he did.

"He started to feel better and did a training session and as it turned out he still actually had a virus and the reaction to the virus and the training caused inflammation of the heart ... and he was checked into hospital with heart pains."

Goodman said Gill is expected to make a full recovery but it will three to six months.

That will definitely rule Gill out of the world indoor champs early in the New Year and he's also very unlikely to compete on the Gold Coast.

Goodman said despite the setback Gill is still "pretty bubbly and bouncy but his frustration will be that he is so used to training and training really hard, (the question is) what does he do for the next three months?"

Goodman said training wise Gill will be limited to stretching "which he will find frustrating but he's got to look after his health."

Fishing and horticulture are Gill's hobbies but Goodman's unsure whether fishing will be an option.

"If he catches a big fish he doesn't want to be pulling that in but he's got his plants. He likes growing plants and computer games. He'll have to have a routine of some sort of physical activity but it won't strenuous."

-RNZ