After heart attack last year, 71-year-old Marcus Chin now bleeds in mouth during live broadcast
Lim Ruey Yan
The Straits Times
July 1, 2025
Local veteran actor-host-DJ Marcus Chin shocked some viewers after he was seen bleeding in the mouth during a live charity show on June 29.
The 71-year-old, who had a heart attack in October 2024, was the opening speaker of the Resilient Hearts: Singapore Heart Foundation 55th Anniversary Charity Show 2025, which was shown on Channel 8 and mewatch.
Blood was seen on his teeth and at the corners of his mouth while he was delivering his speech.
Chin, who underwent two operations after the heart attack, said in an interview on June 30 that he had been taking two types of antiplatelet drugs since the heart surgery.
He told Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao that he believed the bleeding was a side effect of the drugs. "After taking the medicine, my gums would bleed from time to time, sometimes once or twice a week, especially when I am under a lot of pressure. I was the first one to appear at the beginning of the live show and had to memorise the script, so I felt a little stressed."
He said he realised he had bled only after he was asked about it by his relatives, friends and colleagues.
"We had rehearsals for two days before the show and everything was fine, but it happened during the live broadcast, which really annoyed me," he added.
Chin praised the cameraman for reacting swiftly after blood was seen in his mouth. "The camera was supposed to take a close-up of my face, but the lens was quickly pulled away after blood was seen."
He added that his attending cardiologist has advised him to seek dental treatment to alleviate the situation. In addition to bleeding gums, he said his teeth also feel sore from time to time after taking the medicine.
He said he has always been very careful with his diet, but added that he does not have much time to exercise due to his work schedule.
He is a co-host on Love 972's radio programme The Breakfast Quartet, which has been nominated for Best Radio Programme at the Star Awards 2025 on July 6. He is also a nominee for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes.
"Before I was hospitalised for the heart attack, I controlled my diet, such as by eating durians occasionally and char kway teow only once in a long while," he said. "I'm also the type of patient who takes his medication regularly."
Chin said he would focus on looking after his health while pursuing his career in the future.
"I just suffered a heart attack less than one year ago," he said. "Maybe I really need to slow down, relax and not be too busy."
