Olivia Attwood’s dramatic hospital dash revealed as real reason she had to leave the I’m A Celebrity Jungle
I’M A Celebrity’s Olivia Attwood was forced to quit after abnormal blood test results led to a dramatic A&E dash.
The check-up showed that the Love Island star was dangerously anaemic.
A source told The Sun: “It was touch and go for a while.”
Olivia said last night: “I was absolutely devastated.”
Gutted I’m A Celeb dropout Olivia Attwood last night told how her blood test emergency left her scared and in tears.
The Love Island star, 31, had been in the show for just 48 hours when bosses called her for a medical check.
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The blood test results showed she was dangerously anaemic.
They also flagged up worryingly low sodium and potassium levels.
On-site medics were so concerned that Olivia, 31, was called to a private room and then rushed to an A&E unit 30 miles from camp.
The emergency visit meant that producers deemed it unsafe for her to continue on the series.
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On Monday, she had no option but to fly from Brisbane to London and then return to the home she shares with footballer fiancé Bradley Dack, 28, near Manchester.
Speaking to the Olivia said last night: “I was devastated. I’m not a crier but I started to cry, it was so emotional, and I was heartbroken and gutted. I was so scared. I was like, ‘What the hell is wrong with me? They couldn’t give me an answer, they just told me that they had to get me to the hospital immediately.
“The results were really, really low when they put them into their reader and they consulted with another doctor off site. I had those bloods done in England before I left, and they were fine. I was confused and of course very, very worried.
“It felt like the longest journey ever. I was wondering if I’d picked up a virus, or was pregnant.”
At hospital, Olivia’s tests came back normal and she was taken to a hotel to rest while producers decided her fate.
She was later informed the show couldn’t risk putting her back in as iron deficiency anaemia can make someone more at risk of illness or infection, while low mineral levels may indicate underlying health problems.
Olivia said: “They said because of the results the show’s medical team got from my readings, they were not happy to sign me off to come back in, even though I had the clean bill of health from the hospital.
“If I went back into camp, they feared my levels might drop and it could be detrimental to my health and wellbeing. They were not willing to authorise my return and therefore I wasn’t insured.
Olivia also told The Mail on Sunday: “Then the show’s staff told me everyone liked me and I was favourite to win, so leaving felt like a punch to the gut.”
She has previously spoken about having a heart scare as a teenager.
A source in Australia said: “It was touch and go for a while with Olivia’s blood results and I’m A Celeb producers weren’t taking any chances. They take health and safety incredibly seriously while campmates are under their care.
“Olivia was checked over and she found the ordeal quite alarming but she feels totally fine now. She’s gutted that her big moment taking part in the show of her dreams is over and feels like she has so much more to give.
“What happened with her blood results is totally random and she could never have prepared for it.
“She just wants to move past it and look to the future. It’s a huge blow but nothing can be done.”
Sources told The Sun on Sunday Olivia is keeping her fee, reportedly between £100,000 and £125,000, as it was not her decision to leave.
A source added: “ITV have been very accommodating of Olivia’s fee and have even refunded her family members the cost of plane tickets they had paid for to fly out to Australia and support her.”
On Friday, she reassured her two million Instagram followers that she would “be back soon” amid concern over her absence from social media.
All contestants had to take a series of psychological and medical tests before taking part.
The show has returned to Australia for the first time in three years due to the pandemic and is filmed in Springbrook National Park near the Gold Coast, Queensland.
On last Sunday’s launch show, viewers saw Olivia skydive out of a helicopter at 10,000ft with fellow campmate, DJ Chris Moyles, 48.
Having been voted by the public to be a jungle VIP, standing for Very Isolated Person, she described the experience as one of the best days of her life.
She said: “Oh my god I’m crying, that’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. That is incredible. Top ten experiences of my life. Just amazing.”
Hosts Ant and Dec announced her departure on Monday night’s show. It led to speculation about her health issue.
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Competing on ITV2’s The Games in April, she revealed she’d had heart problems running as a teen.
Olivia, who starred on Love Island in 2017, spent £3,000 on beauty treatments including Botox to make sure she looked flawless in the jungle.
