Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PAUL O’GRADY
His dramatic hospital dash
TV’S Paul O’Grady feared he was hours from death after collapsing while working in India.
Paul, 62, was rushed to hospital and needed life-saving treatment after falling ill in his hotel room in capital New Delhi.
The star was told by doctors he was “heading for renal failure” after contracting an infection on his latest ITV show.
Paul – who has overcome three heart attacks – told us: “I used to think I was invincible, but now I’m running out of lives.”
The dog lover believes he picked up a bug after handling some wounded puppies in the Indian capital.
“They had been bitten by rats and there were maggots in them,” said the star. “I must have touched my mouth with my hand and I started vomiting at five in the morning. The doctor was called and he said, ‘You’re so seriously dehydrated, you’re heading for renal failure’. Next thing I know I’m in an Indian hospital, not knowing what was going on and expecting the worst.
“The nurse came every half hour to pump me full of antibiotics and saline.”
Paul decided to speak out about his illness after being bowled over by the kindness of the staff who cared for him.
“When I was in hospital I couldn’t face breakfast,” he said. “The thought was making me feel so sick and a lovely guy said, ‘hang on, I’ll get you some fresh coconut water’, and he presented me with half a coconut and a straw.
“I was like ‘hang on a minute this is a third world country – I didn’t get this in St Thomas’ hospital in London.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
Despite his latest health scare, Paul’s not afraid of dying. “I’m not scared of death at all,” he said. “It’s the way you die that worries me – that’s the fear. I think
I used to think I was invincible but now
I’m running out of lives PAUL O’GRADY
ON HIS MANY HEALTH BATTLES