FRANK Bruno has told how he thought he was dying after falling seriously ill on a long-haul flight — admitting: “I feared the worst.”
The British boxing legend, 63, recalled feeling feverish before blacking out.
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He woke in hospital in Qatar with a drip in his arm and worried PA Paul Hunter at his bedside.
Unknown to Frank, he had been taken off the plane in a wheelchair after it landed, stretchered to a medical centre and then rushed off by an emergency ambulance.
Talking for the first time about his mid-air health drama, the former world heavyweight champion said: “I did fear the worst because I have never been like that in my life.
“If Paul hadn’t been there, I don’t think I would have been sitting here doing this interview with you.”
Frank and Paul were on a Qatar Airways flight from Heathrow to Doha on March 3.
As they prepared for take-off, Paul took a snap of Frank, which the star then shared online.
They were due to take a connecting flight from Doha to Thailand, where four meet-and-greet speaking events had been lined up.
But Frank became feverish and disorientated 2½ hours after take-off.
Worried Paul, 59, alerted crew who found the now-delirious dad of four’s temperature was rising and his oxygen levels dropping.
They alerted medics at Hamad International Airport.
Soon after being taken off the plane, Frank was heading to Al-Wakra Hospital, ten miles away — with Paul fearing it was “touch and go”.
Frank was treated there for two weeks for a mystery virus.
He was allowed to return home only after a doctor jetted out from London, passed him fit to fly and accompanied him back.
Frank told The Sun: “I was excited to be going to Thailand.
“I felt really good.
“But on the plane, I was just agitated and couldn’t chill out.
“I got up to go to the toilet and all of a sudden I forgot what was happening to me.
‘I just blacked out’
“I had a fever but don’t really remember what happened at all.
“It was crazy.
“I’ve never had a problem on a flight in my life.
“I just blacked out because next thing I knew, I woke up and I was in bed in hospital with a drip in my arm.
“Paul was by my side and I just didn’t know what was going on.
“I was wondering, ‘What the hell am I doing here? I’m supposed to be in Thailand’, you know what I mean?
“I was surrounded by nurses and couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying.”
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Frank was speaking at the Frank Bruno Foundation — his Northampton-based charity that offers those suffering mental health problems an eight-week programme including exercise to boost their well-being.
He has made full recovery since his ordeal and looked in great shape due to his improved exercise regime at his home gym and a nearby fitness centre where he has a new personal trainer.
During the chat, the much-loved fighter, known for his booming laugh, cracked jokes and did impressions.
But he confessed he had struggled with having to stay in a hospital bed for two weeks.
‘My life was on the line’
He had scans on his body and brain, and a lumbar puncture procedure which ruled out meningitis.
He said: “I had a lot of energy and I was getting out and walking around.
“I just wanted to move, and the doctors were b*****king me for getting out of bed.”
As he had not cleared passport control, Frank had no belongings and could not discharge himself to leave the country.
He said: “I realised I had to stay there for my health — because my life was on the line.
“As for (contacting) family and friends, Paul was doing all the work, you know what I mean? I wasn’t allowed a phone.
“And I felt bad because there’s a lot of British people in Thailand who had bought tickets and a lot of people involved who were disappointed.
“I’ve been to Thailand before and I have a laugh over there.
I feel very good about the tour. I am going to look after myself, I promise you that — and keep ducking and diving.
Frank Bruno
“I bought a load of suits last time I was over there so I was planning to buy some more — some brightly coloured suits, but it never happened.
“Hopefully I will get over there to see my fans soon.”
PA Paul spoke to their insurers Zurich, which arranged for the UK-based doctor to fly out and return with them in business class.
Frank was given VIP treatment to whisk him through airport controls.
He said: “I was OK but just felt a little bit weak.”
He spent another two weeks in a private hospital in London. Frank went on: “I was at least able to eat, go to the gym, watch TV and go for walks around Hyde Park.
“I came out feeling very strong again.”
He was buoyed by the public support after we revealed the drama on March 21.
He said: “It was very nice to get cards, calls and messages.”
He is now set for some of the British dates that had to be rescheduled.
And he reassured fans: “I feel good, very, very good — I was up at 5.30 this morning training.”
Frank added: “I feel very good about the tour.
“I am going to look after myself, I promise you that — and keep ducking and diving.”