Michael Winner, film director (infection)
Ed Varner
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Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Sick Winner treated in hospital
Veteran film director and food critic Michael Winner is being treated
in hospital after falling ill while on holiday in Barbados.
Winner, 71, is being treated at The London Clinic, a private hospital
in Harley Street.
A spokesman for the director, famous for his Death Wish trilogy,
confirmed he was ill and receiving treatment.
But he refused to comment on newspaper claims that Winner may have to
have a leg amputated.
Allergic reaction
The Daily Mirror reported that doctors told Winner he would have to
have the limb cut off in a bid to save his life.
Winner was taken to the Bayview Hospital in Barbados by ambulance on 3
January, after suffering an apparent allergic reaction to medication
prescribed a few days earlier for a fever.
At the time he told the Daily Mail: "Unfortunately, I had an absolutely
dreadful reaction to the antibiotic and I came out in enormous blood
blisters on my left leg.
"They covered the entire inside of my leg and each one was five inches
long.
"Then they all burst and I was rushed to hospital with the sirens
blaring."
In a statement, The London Clinic said: "Mr Winner remains an
in-patient at The London Clinic, receiving expert medical and nursing
care.
"His condition is under constant review and he is making good
progress."
Winner has been seen on television recently in a new series of adverts
for the insurance company Esure, which gave rise to his "calm down
dear" catchphrase.
Last year Winner turned down an OBE in the Queen's 80th birthday
honours' list because he felt it is "what you get if you clean the
toilets well at King's Cross station".
Ed Varner
Michael Winner born: October 30,1935
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Winner denies amputation reports
Veteran film director and columnist Michael Winner has denied he may be
forced to have a limb amputated.
Winner, 71, is being treated at a private Harley Street hospital after
what is thought to have been a reaction to medication taken while on
holiday.
Some newspaper reports had claimed he had been given the choice of
losing a leg, or dying.
But in a statement he said his limbs were "solidly where they have been
for many years".
Winner was taken to the Bayview Hospital in Barbados by ambulance on 3
January.
Heart bypass
The statement read: "I have been interested in recent newspaper reports
suggesting I had lost, or was about to lose, one leg, two legs, an arm,
a head - some people suggesting this went some time ago! - or even a
fingernail.
"I am happy to tell you that, when I last looked, all of these items
appeared solidly where they have been for many years.
"I am further advised that the chance of any of them leaving my persona
are non-existent. So if you see a leg lying around, it is not mine,
unless, of course, it is firmly attached to my body."
Winner underwent a heart bypass operation in 1993. The film director,
best known for cult movie Death Wish, remains in hospital but is making
good progress, the clinic said.