Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, has reportedly had a leg amputated. Photo / File
Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, has reportedly had a leg amputated. Photo / File
Meghan Markle’s estranged father has been forced to have his leg amputated after a series of health issues, his son has said.
Thomas Markle, 81, was taken to hospital on Tuesday after falling ill at his home in the Philippines.
He had surgery on Wednesday to amputate his left legbelow the knee, according to reports, before being transferred to the intensive care unit where he remains in a stable condition.
The news was announced by his son, Thomas jnr, who told Daily Mail: “There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death”.
“My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly.
“I took him to a local hospital and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated.”
Meghan Markle's family are asking her to show compassion to her ailing father. Photo / CBS Sunday morning
His son previously told Daily Mail that his father’s life “was in imminent danger”.
He said: “They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city. My dad has undergone emergency surgery.
“I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts.”
His son said he hoped Meghan is able to show her estranged father “some compassion”.
“He is literally fighting for his life,” Thomas jnr added.
Thomas snr has suffered with ill health, including a stroke, in recent years and had been living in Mexico for the past 10 years before relocating to the Philippines in January.
He has been estranged from Meghan for a number of years.
Thomas suffered two heart attacks on the eve of the big day in 2018 and was unable to walk his daughter down the aisle.
It came after he had posed for paparazzi pictures ahead of the wedding despite reportedly being advised not to speak to the press.
