Frank Bruno, the former world heavyweight champion, experienced a medical emergency mid-flight while en route to a speaking tour in Thailand. The 63-year-old father of four was feeling unwell shortly after taking off from Heathrow on March 3rd and became increasingly ill during the flight to Doha, Qatar. Despite initially appearing fine, Bruno’s condition deteriorated, prompting the flight crew to take immediate action.

Upon landing in Doha, airport medics attended to Bruno before he was transferred to a modern hospital ten miles away for urgent tests. Doctors were initially concerned and conducted a series of examinations, including tests for meningitis. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with a viral infection, which required nearly two weeks of treatment and monitoring. His passport was withheld to prevent him from leaving prematurely.

Bruno’s management confirmed that he was recovering well and aimed to return to work soon. Unfortunately, his illness forced him to cancel scheduled appearances, including a speaking engagement at Manchester’s Hotel Football. However, there is hope that he will be able to fulfill commitments for his UK tour in May and June.

Throughout his medical ordeal, Bruno was accompanied by his personal assistant, Paul Hunt, who kept family and friends informed of his condition. Bruno, who has a significant fan base in Thailand, expressed concern about disappointing his supporters during his recovery.

Despite facing significant health challenges, including a battle with bipolar disorder in the past, Bruno’s current health scare was unrelated to his mental health. His manager, Dave Davies, reassured fans that Bruno is now on the mend and looks forward to resuming his work. This incident follows a similar health scare involving football legend Stuart Pearce, underscoring the unpredictability of medical emergencies during travel.