Britain’s Got Talent star Mike Newall was rushed to hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage while at the beach with his family.
The comedian – who appeared on the ITV talent show in 2020 – was spending the day with his two children and wife Nico when he became ‘seriously ill’.
Nico Newall recounted the frightening turn in an Instagram post, in which she said things had changed ‘in the blink of an eye’.
Posting a photo from moments before the emergency, Nico recalled how she drove Mike the 40 minutes to the nearest hospital, since it was quicker than an ambulance. ‘All while my brave, funny man battled the most unbearable pain,’ she wrote in the caption.
Mike was then sent to a specialist hospital in Liverpool, after a brain scan indicated he had suffered a haemorrhage.
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Nico continued: ‘We were told to prepare for the worst, and so began the most agonising night of our lives.’
But they were told the bleeding on his brain had stopped, all while Mike remained ‘so calm and positive’, she wrote.
She continued: ‘I’m so relieved to say that things have improved. His pain is being managed, his stats are improving every day and he is doing amazingly well.
‘He still has a long road of recovery ahead, and there are risks the doctors are continuing to monitor round the clock over the next couple of weeks, so we’re taking everything one day at a time.
‘But we’re feeling so much more hopeful today and just praying that he continues to make progress and makes a full recovery.’
Nico went on to thank Mike’s followers for their support, writing: ‘It has meant the absolute world to us.’
‘Friends and family are everything. As for the comedy community – I’ve been in tears all day at your generosity. Testament to what a incredible [sic] guy Mike is.’
Her post comes after promoter Peter Vincent launched a GoFundMe to help support the Newell family during his recovery. The crowdfund effort has raised over £12,000 at the time of publication, well on the way to a goal of £16,000.
Vincent wrote in the description: ‘Let’s get behind Mike, his family and show him how much the comedy community cares. Give him 10 points.’