Former BBC, ITV and Sky Sports host Charlie Webster is in a medically-induced coma due to a rare strain of malaria which she contracted following a charity bike ride across Brazil that ended before the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Webster who has fronted soccer and boxing programs in the UK, was going to do some work for the Great Britain Olympic team, when she felt dehydrated at the Opening Ceremony and went to the hospital.
It was there where she was first diagnosed with a serious infection and posted this message on her Twitter account just days after the Opening Ceremony:
I'm getting there…awful few days with serious infection #Rio pic.twitter.com/ZvZxIRiGNp
— Charlie Webster (@CharlieCW) August 9, 2016
Several days later, a message was posted on her various social media platforms about her illness:
A message about Charlie: pic.twitter.com/dKb89bWr83
— Charlie Webster (@CharlieCW) August 11, 2016
However, her condition has deteriorated to the point where she was put into a medically-induced coma and is currently on life support. Then her agent informed Sky News about her condition:
TV presenter #CharlieWebster's agent confirms she is being treated for a rare strain of malaria & is in a coma and on life support in #Rio
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) August 18, 2016
Webster arrived in Rio on August 4 after a charity 39-day, 3,000-mile bike ride across Brazil and posted pictures of her journey on her social media accounts:
There you are Christ Redeemer, 24 miles to go now! Can't believe I'm here after all this… #RideToRio #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/88v5gsq6Ny
— Charlie Webster (@CharlieCW) August 3, 2016
Made it! Incredible 3000 mile journey to get here…overwhelmed! #RidetoRio pic.twitter.com/hbJpEq4m4D
— Charlie Webster (@CharlieCW) August 4, 2016
Since the news broke about Webster’s coma, she’s received support from various sports personalities in the UK including 2014 ESPN World Cup host Lynsey Hipgrave:
Sending very best wishes to @CharlieCW for a full and speedy recovery X
— Lynsey Hipgrave (@lynseyhipgrave1) August 18, 2016
Sending my fellow #TeamGB ambassador @CharlieCW lots of strength & thoughts, shocked to hear of her illness today
— Kirsty Gallacher (@TheRealKirstyG) August 18, 2016
Thinking about my friend & former @SkySports colleague @CharlieCW, seriously ill after #RidetoRio charity cycle ride pic.twitter.com/JPxoIWTnKB
— Jim White (@JimWhite) August 18, 2016
Just read the horrible story about @CharlieCW being in a Rio hospital. Wishing her all the best and a speedy recovery.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 18, 2016
One of the concerns about the Rio Olympics was Zika which is transmitted by mosquitoes, but a rare strain of malaria was certainly not among them. Webster’s coma is quite shocking and it’s shaken up a tight-knit UK sports media community. It’s hoped that Webster will have a full recovery soon.
[BBC]
Comments are closed.