Ricky Hatton says he hopes his “dear friend” Frank Bruno makes a speedy recovery after falling ill on a long haul flight.
Speaking exclusively to GB News the boxing icon said: “Frank is a British boxing legend, and I am proud to say he’s a good mate of mine.
“I’ve kept in touch with Frank’s team to see how he is and, thankfully, I’m told he is on the mend.
"I wish him a speedy recovery. Love you Frank."
Ricky Hatton says he hopes his “dear friend” Frank Bruno makes a speedy recovery after falling ill on a long haul flight
GETTY
Ricky’s message came as it emerged Frank spoken about falling ill on a long-haul flight and being rushed to hospital.
The health scare occurred on March 3 when Bruno, 63, was flying from Heathrow to Thailand via Doha, Qatar.
He landed in Qatar and was treated by medics, who subsequently diagnosed him with a viral infection and kept him in hospital for two weeks, according to The Sun.
Bruno, who won the world heavyweight title in 1995, has now sent a message out to his fans on social media as he confirmed he has been told to rest, but vowed to return to work when he is given the green light by doctors.
"Morning so my illness story is out!" he wrote on X.
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"Now you know why I have been quiet on social media.
"The last 3 weeks have been tough, especially not knowing what was wrong with me and a Viral infection can mean loads of things between Dave in the office and me. We'll keep you informed."
The father of four, who was feverish, was treated by airport medics after landing in Doha, Qatar, before he was whisked to a hospital ten miles away for a series of urgent tests.
Bruno had posed for a photo before the mid-air drama this month.
Doctors eventually diagnosed him with a viral infection — and kept him in for nearly two weeks, taking his passport so he could not try to leave.
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Bruno had been due to talk at four events in Thailand so took a connecting Qatar Airways flight on March 3 from Heathrow to Doha.
He posted a picture of him in his seat, smiling with sunglasses perched on his head.
He wrote: “Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues. Up early for a plane, I don’t sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzs.”
But Bruno became ill soon after take-off, with crew alerted to his plight.
A source said: “Frank was fine when he boarded the plane — but quickly went downhill during the flight. He was in a really bad way and they were unsure what the problem was.
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“It was extremely worrying as it was mid-flight so he was stuck on the plane.
“Paul and Frank thought it might be food poisoning, but it turned out to be worse than that.
“Frank was in a bad way and was sweating profusely and had fever-like symptoms.
“Paul was worried but was doing his best to keep him calm. He was treated on the flight at Doha, in the airport and then at the hospital.
“Doctors were really worried and carried out all sorts of tests, including for meningitis. They then diagnosed him with a viral infection, which at least meant they could start treating him.”
Frank Bruno is a British boxing legend
GETTY
Bruno — who recently starred in Amazon Prime documentary Four Kings alongside fellow Brit fighters Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank — was due to start his Thailand tour on March 6.
But he was forced to cancel as medics kept him at the Al Wakra Hospital until he improved.
His PA — UB40’s former tour manager — stayed with him and kept loved ones informed.
Bruno, awarded an MBE for services to boxing in 1990, is now “on the mend” and has returned to Britain.
His manager Dave Davies said: “Frank was flying out to work in Thailand when he was taken ill on the plane at Doha.
"Medical crew attended Frank on the plane and at hospital. He’s now recovering and hopes to be back at work as soon as possible.”
