Adolescence star Stephen Graham reveals terrifying moment he had emergency operation mid-air on flight from UK to US

Scottish Sun

19 hours ago

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STEPHEN Graham has revealed he had to get surgery while on an airplane after a painful medical issue.
The Adolescence and Thousand Blows star, 51, appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he was grilled on an unfortunate incident last time he flew to the States.
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Stephen Graham shared the terrifying incident on Seth Meyers
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Adolescence has been the must-watch show of 2025 so far
Credit: AP
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The actor credited the crew and surgeons for their quick thinking
Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
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The actor later grabbed a selfie with the surgeon and doctor who performed on him
Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Asking if he was OK now, Stephen shared that he found himself getting a surgical catheter installed at 10,000ft during one of his last flights.
Recounting the shocking story, Stephen explained that "past the age of 45, you need to go to the toilet more" but found himself unable to urinate for reasons he didn't know.
"I'm like, Oh, this doesn't feel right" he told the host. "I knew I had to, and then silly Stephen thought, 'Oh, well, if I go back to my seat and I just keep drinking water, at some point it will happen.'"
However, he shared that an hour later, when he tried to go again "long story short, all of a sudden I went, but it was just pure blood."
Admitting it was "very scary", Stephen reached out to a doctor he already knew was on the plane for advice and help.
"Next minute, the doctor comes around the corner, and he goes, Stephen! and I'm like 'Doc, hello!', and I explained the situation.
"He had another friend with him, who was a surgeon, so I'm there, and I explain. He's like, okay, and the surgeon, Dr Haji, says, we can work this out."
However, Stephen noted that they then sterilised the lounge area between the economy and first class seats, and a catheter is pulled out of an emergency box.
When shocked Seth asked if anyone had walked in on him, Stephen thanked the crew on the flight for keeping curtains drawn so he could have some privacy during the sensitive operation.
"I drop me kecks, I get on the couch, and he performs a catheter operation there and then," Stephen said, later sharing a selfie he grabbed with the doctors after the op was done.
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"The relief was unbelievable as you can imagine, but it was a little clot that had got stuck behind, well, not little, but, had got stuck behind my urethra," he concluded.
"I went to the toilet, and it was one of the nicest experience with me and my penis!" he said as the audience burst into fits of laughter, noting after he was done "he came running out like a kid that had just learned to use the toilet".
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Stephen's work in Adolescence has been praised around the world
Credit: AP