Frank Bruno breaks silence after falling ‘seriously ill’ on flight in mid-air emergency

BOXING legend Frank Bruno has revealed his story after he fell “seriously ill” on a flight in a mid-air emergency.

The former world heavyweight champ has told of how “tough” the past three weeks had been due to his illness.

Boxing legend Frank Bruno has spoken out about his recent health issuesX

PA

The former world heavyweight champion has said he ‘can’t wait to get back to work’[/caption]

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Bruno retired from boxing following his 1996 loss to Mike Tyson[/caption]

He had been previously left “in a really bad way” as he headed off on a speaking tour and was whisked to hospital after landing in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month.

In a post on X today, Bruno said: “The last 3 weeks have been tough especially not knowing what was wrong with me and a Viral infection can mean loads of things between Dave in the office and me we’ll keep you informed.

“At the moment I am told I cannot go to work so for the jobs last week and this weekend please accept my apology however the office is telling me most bookers want to transfer the booked dates.

“The office tells me already this morning hundreds of messages from well wishers so thank you.”

He added: “[I] can’t wait to get back to work.”

The dad-of-four had fallen seriously ill on a long-haul flight earlier this month.

Bruno, who was feverish, was treated by airport medical staff in Qatar before receiving urgent tests at a hospital in the city.

Doctors eventually diagnosed him with a viral infection — and kept him in for nearly two weeks, taking his passport so he could not try to leave.

His manager had previously said he was recovering and looking to return to work “as soon as possible”.

Bruno had been due to talk at four events in Thailand so took a connecting Qatar Airways flight on March 3 from Heathrow to Doha.

He posted a picture of himself in his seat, smiling with sunglasses perched on his head.

He wrote: “Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues. Up early for a plane, I don’t sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzs.”

But Bruno, travelling with his PA Paul Hunter, became ill soon after take-off, with crew alerted to his plight.

A source said: “Frank was fine when he boarded the plane — but quickly went downhill during the flight.

“He was in a really bad way and they were unsure what the problem was.

“It was extremely worrying as it was mid-flight so he was stuck on the plane.”

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Bruno shared a picture of himself smiling on the flight before falling seriously ill[/caption]

Boxing legend Frank was feverish and ‘in a really bad way’ on the flightLouis Wood

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Tyson dodging a punch from Bruno during their 1996 bout[/caption]

The source added: “Paul and Frank thought it might be food poisoning, but it turned out to be worse than that.

“Frank was in a bad way and was sweating profusely and had fever-like symptoms.

“Paul was worried but was doing his best to keep him calm.”

They said Frank was treated on the flight to Doha as well as in the airport and eventually at the hospital.

“Doctors were really worried and carried out all sorts of tests, including for meningitis,” the source added.

“They then diagnosed him with a viral infection, which at least meant they could start treating him.”

Bruno — who recently starred in Amazon Prime documentary Four Kings alongside fellow Brit fighters Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank — was due to start his Thailand tour on March 6.

But he was forced to cancel as medics kept him at the Al Wakra Hospital until he improved.

His PA — UB40’s former tour manager — stayed with him and kept loved ones informed.