Australian country singer Victoria McGee, 36, reveals shock heart failure diagnosis

Australian country singer Victoria McGee has revealed she was diagnosed with  a heart failure condition.

The 36-year-old underwent a heart transplant in 2019 after she had been given just 18 months to live.

The former X Factor star said she had felt something was wrong from the age of 15, but her condition was misdiagnosed several times by doctors.

‘I had an inkling back then and by the time I was 28, my heart just went into full failure,’ Victoria told 7NEWS.com.au.

She continued: ‘I didn’t expect it at that age and I certainly didn’t expect it with the lifestyle that I lived so it was a big shock.’

Victoria said doctors were surprised she was still walking when she went to hospital.

‘My doctor told me you’re a dead woman walking, the arrhythmias you had should have killed you,’ she said.

After her heart transplant, Victoria had to learn to sing again but says that once she’s performed a show her body ‘gives up for three days afterwards’.

She is now an ambassador for the free Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and IMB Bank Heart Health Tour. 

The Heart Health Tour is a mobile heart health testing service in NSW.

Meanwhile, Victoria was a judge on Channel Seven’s reality program All Together Now last year.

She also previously starred on The X Factor and Australian Idol before representing Newcastle at the National Country Music Championships in 2006.