Ben Askren says he ‘died four times’ during health scare

Ben Askren on Wednesday appeared on camera to share a message with his fans for the first time since his significant health scare.

Askren, 40, has been hospitalized for over a month after falling ill with “severe pneumonia” that resulted from a staph infection. He became so ill that he needed a double lung transplant in order to improve his health condition.

On Wednesday, Askren posted a video to his Instagram in which he spoke about his health situation. The former Bellator and ONE Welterweight Champion said he “died four times” during the entire ordeal. He also says he does not remember anything from May 28-July 2.

“What’s up guys? Had not given you an update for a while. Figure you deserve one,” Askren said in the video. “Whenever this is all the way over, I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection. Zero idea. No idea what happened.

“I just read through my wife’s journal, it’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous. So I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. I got the double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it. Gaining strength. I was actually on the scale yesterday. 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since 15 years old. That was a battle, and I don’t remember most of it.”