Street star in hospital drama after falling ill with sepsis
BY TOM BRYANT CORRIE star Gareth Berliner has been rushed to hospital with sepsis.
The actor, who plays Macca on the Cobbles, was taken by ambulance in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The comedian has battled Crohn’s disease for 30 years and has previously told how he takes a nutritional feed into his blood via a tube in his chest.
Speaking of the 999 dash, he said: “Well I was brought into hospital by ambulance about 1am owing to some amount of sepsis... vomiting and upset gut and a temp of 39C.”
Crohn’s disease is an inflammation of the gut which affects how his body absorbs and digests food.
He’s had a dozen operations to remove much of his small intestine.
Gareth said previously: “I have a line in my chest – a main vein into the heart.
“Technically, I don’t need to eat because I’m only taking in 10 per cent nutrition from food, so everything I get comes from my fluids.”
Gareth spoke of his condition during his audition for long-running ITV soap Coronation Street.
He said: “They were holding open auditions for a new disabled character called Howie.
“I am registered disabled but I didn’t tick the right boxes because I look physically fine.
“My disease doesn’t seem like a big deal to me and I don’t let it control my life.
“They saw something in me and called me back months later to audition for Macca.”
Gareth is married to actress and comedian Kiruna Stamell, who has appeared in TV shows including EastEnders. She was born with a rare form of dwarfism and is 3ft 6in.