Doctors at the hospital discovered that one of the player’s arteries was blocked and performed a successful procedure to dilate it.

“I’m feeling very good. Whatever they did to me was perfect and I am getting over it now,” Gaitan told La Nacion newspaper.

Despite speculation that the problem could force his retirement from rugby, the player is now just focusing on his recovery.

“That’s not important. I am alive. Whatever comes from now on will be for free,” he added

“I don’t know what I will do then, but now I will live a normal life, following doctors’ indications.”

“I have to take some pills now and some others for the rest of my life.”

Pumas head coach Marcelo Loffreda chose not to comment on Gaitan’s place in the World Cup squad while the player was in hospital but today announced Hindu centre Hernan Senillosa would replace him in the squad.

Although Gaitan is now resigned to the fact that he will miss the showpiece event, he would still like to meet up with the team as long as his presence does not prove a distraction.

“If I feel better, I think I will meet the guys the week before,” he said. “However, I don’t want to make them lose concentration.”