The estranged father of Meghan Markle, Thomas Markle, is currently in intensive care in the Philippines following an urgent amputation procedure. The 81-year-old, who relocated to Cebu with his son Thomas Jr. last May, faced a severe health crisis on December 2, necessitating immediate medical attention.
Emergency Surgery and Critical Condition
Thomas Jr. recounted the harrowing experience to the British media outlet Daily Mail, explaining that his father became gravely ill. "I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger," he shared. The situation quickly escalated, leading to an ambulance transfer, sirens blaring, to a larger medical facility in the city center where his father underwent a three-hour emergency surgery.
The critical nature of Mr. Markle's condition was underscored by the rapid deterioration of his leg. Thomas Jr. described how his father's foot turned "blue and then black" very quickly. Subsequent scans and an ultrasound confirmed a grim diagnosis: the leg required immediate amputation due to a blood clot, described as a "case of life or death." Another procedure is anticipated to address the remaining clot. Thomas Jr. has urged global prayers for his father's recovery.
A History of Health Challenges
This recent health scare adds to Thomas Markle's history of medical challenges. He previously suffered two heart attacks and a major stroke in 2022. Just two months prior, in October, he also garnered attention for refuting claims that he was left stranded following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu.
Estrangement from Daughter Meghan
Thomas Markle's strained relationship with his daughter, Meghan, has been widely publicized since 2018, the year she married Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana. Despite the personal distance, the current focus remains on his critical condition and the hopes for his recovery in the Philippines.