Boxing icon rushed to hospital after falling ‘critically unwell’ on long-haul flight
The boxing icon was taken ‘seriously ill’ onboard a long-haul flight and received treatment in hospital in Qatar after the mid-air emergency left him in a bad way
Boxing legend Frank Bruno was rushed to hospital in Qatar after falling seriously ill on a long-haul flight, it has emerged.
The former world heavyweight champ was left “in a really bad way” and kept in hospital in the Gulf State for a fortnight. Medics had to take his passport off him so he couldn’t try to leave and eventually diagnosed him with a viral infection.
The father of four, who was feverish, was treated by airport medics after landing in Doha, Qatar, where he was catching a connection flight on his way to a speaking tour in in Thailand on March 3.
He was then whisked to a hospital ten miles away for a series of urgent tests, the Sun reports.
Frank has since returned to the UK and was said to be recovering on Thursday night and looking to return to work “as soon as possible”.
His manager Dave Davies said: “Frank was flying out to work in Thailand when he was taken ill on the plane at Doha. Medical crew attended Frank on the plane and at hospital. He’s now recovering and hopes to be back at work as soon as possible.”
The former It’s A Knockout host had posted a picture of himself on Facebook before the flight, reports Mirror. Smiling with sunglasses perched on his head, he wrote: “Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues. Up early for a plane, I don’t sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzs.”
But Frank, travelling with his PA Paul Hunter, became ill soon after take-off and crew were alerted to his plight. A source told The Sun that Frank was fine when he boarded the plane, but quickly went downhill during the flight.
His Thailand tour was scheduled to kick off in Pattaya, before more dates with fans in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Koh Phangan.
The source said: “In typical Frank fashion, he was more worried about supposedly letting his fans down.”
Legendary fighter Frank hung up his gloves in 1996 after a defeat to Mike Tyson. He struggled mentally after retiring from the sport and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1998, before splitting with wife Laura in 2001.
His health scare came after footie legend Stuart Pearce spent five days in hospital after taking ill on a flight home from watching Warrington Wolves’ Super League showdown with arch rivals Wigan in Las Vegas. Stuart is now “in good form” recovering.
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