I woke in hospital in Qatar with a drip in my arm after nearly dying on a flight… I feared the worst, says Frank Bruno
The British boxing legend, 63, recalled feeling feverish before blacking out.
4
4
He woke in hospital in Qatar with a drip in his arm and worried PA Paul Hunter at his bedside.
Unknown to Frank, he had been taken off the plane in a wheelchair after it landed, stretchered to a medical centre and then rushed off by an emergency ambulance.
Talking for the first time about his mid-air health drama, the former world heavyweight champion said: 'I did fear the worst because I have never been like that in my life.
'If Paul hadn't been there, I don't think I would have been sitting here doing this interview with you.'
Frank and Paul were on a Qatar Airways flight from Heathrow to Doha on March 3.
As they prepared for take-off, Paul took a snap of Frank, which the star then shared online.
They were due to take a connecting flight from Doha to Thailand, where four meet-and-greet speaking events had been lined up.
But Frank became feverish and disorientated 2½ hours after take-off.
Worried Paul, 59, alerted crew who found the now-delirious dad of four's temperature was rising and his oxygen levels dropping.
They alerted medics at Hamad International Airport.
Frank Bruno in mid-air emergency after falling 'seriously ill' on flight prompting docs to take drastic action
Soon after being taken off the plane, Frank was heading to Al-Wakra Hospital, ten miles away — with Paul fearing it was 'touch and go'.
Frank was treated there for two weeks for a mystery virus.
He was allowed to return home only after a doctor jetted out from London, passed him fit to fly and accompanied him back.
Frank told The Sun: 'I was excited to be going to Thailand.
'I felt really good.
'But on the plane, I was just agitated and couldn't chill out.
'I got up to go to the toilet and all of a sudden I forgot what was happening to me.
'I just blacked out'
'I had a fever but don't really remember what happened at all.
'It was crazy.
'I've never had a problem on a flight in my life.
'I just blacked out because next thing I knew, I woke up and I was in bed in hospital with a drip in my arm.
'Paul was by my side and I just didn't know what was going on.
'I was wondering, 'What the hell am I doing here? I'm supposed to be in Thailand', you know what I mean?
'I was surrounded by nurses and couldn't understand a word of what they were saying.'
4
Frank was speaking at the Frank Bruno Foundation — his Northampton-based charity that offers those suffering mental health problems an eight-week programme including exercise to boost their well-being.
He has made full recovery since his ordeal and looked in great shape due to his improved exercise regime at his home gym and a nearby fitness centre where he has a new personal trainer.
During the chat, the much-loved fighter, known for his booming laugh, cracked jokes and did impressions.
But he confessed he had struggled with having to stay in a hospital bed for two weeks.
'My life was on the line'
He had scans on his body and brain, and a lumbar puncture procedure which ruled out meningitis.
He said: 'I had a lot of energy and I was getting out and walking around.
'I just wanted to move, and the doctors were b*****king me for getting out of bed.'
As he had not cleared passport control, Frank had no belongings and could not discharge himself to leave the country.
He said: 'I realised I had to stay there for my health — because my life was on the line.
'As for (contacting) family and friends, Paul was doing all the work, you know what I mean? I wasn't allowed a phone.
'And I felt bad because there's a lot of British people in Thailand who had bought tickets and a lot of people involved who were disappointed.
'I've been to Thailand before and I have a laugh over there.
I feel very good about the tour. I am going to look after myself, I promise you that — and keep ducking and diving.
Frank Bruno
'I bought a load of suits last time I was over there so I was planning to buy some more — some brightly coloured suits, but it never happened.
'Hopefully I will get over there to see my fans soon.'
PA Paul spoke to their insurers Zurich, which arranged for the UK-based doctor to fly out and return with them in business class.
Frank was given VIP treatment to whisk him through airport controls.
He said: 'I was OK but just felt a little bit weak.'
He spent another two weeks in a private hospital in London. Frank went on: 'I was at least able to eat, go to the gym, watch TV and go for walks around Hyde Park.
'I came out feeling very strong again.'
He was buoyed by the public support after we revealed the drama on March 21.
He said: 'It was very nice to get cards, calls and messages.'
He is now set for some of the British dates that had to be rescheduled.
And he reassured fans: 'I feel good, very, very good — I was up at 5.30 this morning training.'
Frank added: 'I feel very good about the tour.
'I am going to look after myself, I promise you that — and keep ducking and diving.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I tried storing potatoes with one fruit and the hack actually worked'
Potatoes seem to have a mind of their own - they sprout into something resembling a shuffling cordyceps undead in a flash. But one food storage trick ensures they last longer It's one of life's minor irritations - you've finally summoned the energy to cook a proper meal after a long day, rather than just ordering a takeaway, but when you open the cupboards everything's... gone a bit pear-shaped. Potatoes, in particular, seem to despise being fresh and ready to eat. Neglect them for just a few days, and you could find yourself with a bag full of alien-like tuber horrors sprouting into something that resembles a shuffling cordyceps undead from The Last of Us. Especially in hot summer weather like the conditions we're currently experiencing this August, it can feel like food spoils almost instantly in the warm confines of a British kitchen. Reporter Alex Evans has dug into a potato-preserving hack foodies swear by. It's said to work particularly well in the summer months. It comes after UK households issued warning if they have Nescafé coffee in kitchen. Since I spend my day writing about food storage hacks (it's a living), I decided to put a quite popular potato storage hack to the test - storing your potatoes with apples, writes Alex. According to food storage experts (yes, they exist), keeping potatoes in the fridge with apples will prevent them from going off for 'three times longer' than if they're stored without apples in a cupboard, reports the Express. The science behind it is apparently due to ethylene gas produced by the apples in the fridge. This chemical is released by the fruit as part of its typical ripening process, which is slowed by the colder temperature, in turn keeping the potatoes fresh for longer, too, say the boffins. This same chemical can be used to delay the sprouting of potatoes because it inhibits the metabolism of enzymes in the starch of the spud. I dutifully purchased two standard 1KG bags of spuds from Asda, along with a pack of Golden Delicious apples. One bag had an apple popped in it and was then tucked away in the crisper drawer of the fridge. The other was stashed in a dark cupboard in one corner of the kitchen, sans apple. I kept putting off writing this article for weeks on end, simply because the trick was working too well. Every few days, I'd check, and everything looked the same for the fridge potatoes, while the cupboard ones also seemed fine, until suddenly, they weren't. So, does storing your spuds with apples really make them last longer? Two weeks later: the cupboard potatoes without apples are completely inedible, covered in sprouts and rotting. I've been known to chop off the odd growth and carry on, but these are beyond salvageable. They're grotesquely sprouting into some alien lifeform. The fridge potatoes look as good as the day I bought them; they're flawless, pristine, and still fully edible. In fact, the apple has sacrificed itself to protect its earthy mates because it's shrivelled and starting to rot. But the potatoes are perfectly edible—in fact, with the added chill of the fridge, I'm not sure they're ever going to spoil; it almost works too well. So yes: apples really DO save your spuds - and your fridge even more so. Note: No food will be wasted for science. The rotten potatoes will be chopped up for compost, and the poorly apples will be sliced up for the birds.
Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
New Kellogg's cereal hits shelves and it's just like this discontinued favorite
Head over to Morrisons and you might spot Kellogg's 'Smacks' on the shelves for just £2.50. 'So what?', we hear you ask. Well, shoppers and cereal lovers have pointed out that the product looks and tastes a lot like Sugar Puffs – a fan-favourite breakfast choice that was discontinued back in 2014. Already a popular choice in the US, Kellogg's Smacks has had Brits in a frenzy now that it's crossed the pond. The cereal is made from puffed wheat and sweetened with honey, it's presented as a classic, crunchy breakfast choice, made without artificial colours and flavours, and high in vitamin D. Users headed to a Facebook group called 'Snack Reviews', where the product immediately caught the attention of users for its similarity to Sugar Puffs. 'They'll always be sugar puffs to me,' one commenter said, while another wrote: 'In other words, they've brought out sugar puffs again and called it a different name.' Sugar Puffs are fondly remembered by British crowds. The Original Quaker Oats cereal was discontinued when their name was changed to 'Honey Monster Puffs' and the sugar content slashed by 20%. The new formula, which exchanged sugar for honey, significantly changing its taste, was shifted to align with new health standards as the government began an initiative to reduce excessive sugar consumption. Kellogg's new arrival, 'Smacks', is reported to taste far more similar to Sugar Puffs thanks to the dose of nostalgia and their satisfying crunch. More Trending I brought these back from Paris because they were the nearest thing to sugar puffs I've ever tried,' Facebook user Charlie Mcmillan commented. 'Amazing, hopefully they stick around .' But be warned: a 30g serving contains a tasty 10g of sugar. View More » Yikes. It's been a tough couple of years for cereal lovers with a sweet tooth. Coco Pops Rocks were discontinued in August 2024, and some reported finding it 'hard to live without them.' Then Weetabix Golden Syrup was axed for good just one month later, causing one mum, Emma Ball, to say: 'My son was heartbroken, he loved these.' A personal fave, Kellogg's Apricot Wheats, didn't fare for long. But nothing shook breakfast lovers more than Frosties being ditched from the mini variety packs. Childhood sleepovers and camping trips will never be the same again. The good news is, customers do have some sway on the matter. Chocolate Cornflakes made a return in 2024 thanks to high demand. So if you're really missing the original Sugar Puffs, you know what to do. MORE: Bakery chain hailed as 'better than Greggs' is opening new shops across UK MORE: Culture appropriation never used to bother me — hummus changed everything MORE: Where to sip on mini cocktails in London Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Methanol poisoning victim issues warning to others after losing sight
Calum Macdonald, a British man, has spoken out about losing his sight after suffering methanol poisoning while travelling in Laos in 2024, saying he experienced a 'kaleidoscopic, blinding light'. Mr Macdonald was one of several tourists who fell victim to methanol poisoning after consuming free alcoholic drinks at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. Six people in the group died. He said he felt 'my life wasn't worth living' after the poisoning and is advising tourists to avoid drinking free spirits. Methanol, often found in cleaning products, is tasteless and odourless, making contaminated drinks impossible to detect. Mr Macdonald is now campaigning with other victims' families for the Foreign Office to issue clearer warnings about methanol poisoning risks in South East Asia.
