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 legend, 63, recalled feeling feverish before blacking out.
He woke in hospital in 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 , 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 Airways flight from Heathrow to Doha on March 3.
As they prepared for take-off, Paul , which the star then shared online.
They were due to take a connecting flight from Doha to , 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, , ten miles away — with Paul fearing it was “touch and go”;.
was treated there for two weeks for a mystery virus.
He was allowed to return home only after a doctor jetted out from , passed him fit to fly and accompanied him back.
Frank told The Sun: “I was excited to be going to .
“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.”;
Frank was speaking at the Frank Bruno Foundation — his Northampton-based that offers those suffering problems an eight-week programme including exercise to boost their well-being.
He has made 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 .
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 class.
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, I promise you that — and keep ducking and diving.”;
