Tim Healy has been airlifted to a hospital in the UK after being struck down with a mystery illness that left him fighting for his life, the Mirror reports. The 64-year-old Benidorm actor fell ill while filming the hit show in Spain last month, and was flown back to a hospital in Manchester at the weekend. "Tim has been in a bad way for a while and had to pull out of filming Benidorm," a source told the newspaper. "He was in hospital for three and a half weeks and at one point was fighting for his life.
© Photo: Getty ImagesTim Healy was struck down by a mystery illness last month that left him 'fighting for his life'
"But he was flown to Manchester on Saturday and his condition has improved. His wife Joan has been by his side throughout the ordeal. "He's still in hospital but is making progress. The doctors are keeping a constant eye on him. "Tim, who used to be married to actress Denise Welch, is thought to be in the middle of filming a new nine-episode series of Benidorm. An ITV source said: "Filming schedules have been adjusted to accommodate Tim's absence on screen. "Everyone on Benidorm, both cast and crew, just want him to rest up and recover well in his own time."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Benidorm star was married to Denise Welch for 24 years
The actor, who comes from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, has played the cross dressing character of Les/Lesley in Benidorm since 2010. He first found fame in the 1980s comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, playing Dennis Patterson, and more recently appeared alongside David Jason in Still Open All Hours.Tim and Denise were married for 24 years before divorcing in 2012. They have two sons, one of whom, Matt Healy, is the singer with rock band The 1975. Tim married Joan in a surprise ceremony in November.The star has suffered with his health in the past, and had to have surgery in 2011 to unblock arteries in both his legs. "I was terrified Tim could die," Denise said at the time. "I tried to stay strong for him but I was scared. "Tim, meanwhile, said: "Denise is a bit dramatic about this. I was never frightened of dying or anything like that. But a lot of my family died young, so I know why she worries."(The operation) was a huge success and I'm very much back on the road now. I'm a different person – I'm sorted."
