The father of the Duchess of Sussex, Thomas Markle Snr, is fighting for his life in a Philippine hospital following an emergency leg amputation, with doctors warning the next few days are absolutely critical.
A Life-or-Death Surgery
Thomas Markle Snr, 81, underwent life-saving surgery to have his left leg amputated below the knee after a severe blood clot caused the limb to turn black. The former Hollywood lighting engineer, who now lives on the island of Cebu, was rushed to hospital after falling ill at his home earlier this week.
His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, who lives with and cares for his father, revealed the gravity of the situation. He stated that doctors presented a stark choice: operate immediately to remove the leg or face the very real possibility of death.
The Crucial Timeline for Recovery
Speaking after the procedure, Thomas Jnr shared the urgent medical timeline provided by surgeons. "One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical," he explained. The primary concerns now are preventing post-operative infections such as sepsis or gangrene from setting in.
Describing the pre-surgery condition, Thomas Jnr said his father's "flesh was black and dying", leaving the medical team with no alternative but to perform the amputation.
Meghan Markle Breaks Silence
Despite a well-documented estrangement that began in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has now made contact with her father. A spokesperson for the Duchess confirmed last night, "I can confirm she has reached out to her father."
The relationship breakdown means Thomas Snr has never met his royal grandchildren, six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet. His health struggles have been persistent; he suffered two heart attacks just before the wedding and a stroke in May 2022 that left him unable to speak for months.
After initial hospitalisations in Mexico and the US, the Emmy-winning professional moved to a £500-a-month high-rise apartment in Cebu earlier this year. Recalling the frantic dash to hospital, Thomas Jnr said, "They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city... I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts."
