health horror
Love Island’s Dr Alex George rushed to hospital after falling seriously ill – as he shares A&E pic
It came after he overhauled his lifestyle with one huge change
LOVE Island favourite Dr Alex George has revealed he was rushed to hospital over the Easter holiday as he detailed his terrifying medical emergency.
The ITV2 matchmaking show star, 33, shared a series of snaps taken from London's St Thomas' Hospital after he was forced to seek help for "tonsillitis with fevers."
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Now, "high" after having been pumped with steroids, the NHS doctor has his sights set on headed home.
The health emergency has also brought back uncomfortable memories for Love Island OG Dr Alex, who was treated at the same facility for life-threatening sepsis - which left him bed-bound for days.
This time around, in an image gallery posted to Instagram, Alex captured the exterior of the hospital before showing him in the bed attached to a tube.
In his emotional caption he wrote: "So Easter didn’t go so well. I was hoping to do a March photo dump today but here we are.
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"Last few days I have had tonsillitis with fevers, but yesterday the swelling around my tonsil went crazy and the pain was very bad.
"I was hoping it wouldn’t get worse but at midnight last night, it was too much and could hardly swallow so I went to St Thomas A&E."
Talking of his former health battle, he put: "Kind of weird for me coming back to St Thomas Hospital, as a few years ago I nearly died of sepsis.
"If it were not for the incredible care of the doctors and nurses I wouldn’t be here.
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"There is a deep humbling that happens when you feel so unwell that you need to ask someone, “please can you help me?”.
"In asking that question you are submitting yourself and allowing others to intervene and help you, when you can’t help yourself further.
"I had this same feeling, probably to a greater extent, when I had sepsis.
"A realisation of, what would I do if you weren’t here to help me right now? Like really, what would I do?"
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
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Dr Alex, who works at Lewisham Hospital, continued: "Last night I was looked after by the A&E team at St Thomas (who were lovely and amazing), before being transferred to Guys Hospital under the care of the ENT team.
"I had medications and a procedure overnight, and felt some relief. I have had another procedure this morning and feel on the mend.
"I cannot emphasise, reiterate, or say this enough, I am so grateful to everyone that has looked after me. From the doctors and nurses, to the receptionist who booked me in with kindness and empathy, the paramedic who transferred me and kept me feeling positive, to the lovely cook who’s sorting me an apple crumble to nibble on. You are a credit to your profession and your families.
"I’m lying in the hospital bed right now, feeling slightly high from the steroids, but really thinking how much I value my health, being able to move and exercise, being able to feel well.
"Never take it for granted! No day is promised, lets live as much as we can.
"All going well, I hope to be reunited with Rolo Polo later this evening or tomorrow, who has also been poorly. What a pair!
"Thanks for all the kind messages, I appreciate you SO much."
His followers were quick to flood his page with messages of support.
Dr Alex has been a key champion of The Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards, to celebrate the work of the NHS.
Back in 2020 he told us: "I want people to appreciate how lucky we are to have the NHS — and that it has been underfunded for many years."
New attitude
He has recently re-vamped his attitude to fitness, losing six stone in a year.
Dr Alex credits his new figure and fresh mental attitude to giving up booze - and has been rightly proud to show off his unrecognisable new look.
He showcased his new shape online after ditching booze before marking the one-year sober point in his journey.
In August 2022, the TV star said he had overhauled his lifestyle after finding himself in a really "dark" and "bad place."
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Alex - who tragically lost his younger brother Llyr after he took his own life in July 2020 - heartbreakingly confessed that he "didn't want to be here anymore", saying his mental and physical health was in an "awful place".
Alongside a series of photos posted last summer, Alex went on to reveal that had quit alcohol in a bid to banish the feeling of "numbness" it provided.
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