Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, has had his left leg amputated below the knee following an emergency medical procedure.
The 81-year-old reportedly spent three hours in surgery on Wednesday in Cebu, Philippines, after doctors detected a dangerous blood clot that caused his foot to first turn blue and eventually black.
His son, Thomas Markle Jr., told the Daily Mail that the health scare escalated suddenly on Tuesday when his father became seriously ill at home and was rushed to the hospital.
“My dad is being very brave,” he said, explaining that doctors had informed the family that removing the leg was the only option. “I was told the leg had to be removed. It was a case of life or death.”
Following the operation, the former Hollywood lighting director was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he is said to be in stable condition. Medical professionals, however, caution that the coming days are critical as they monitor for any signs of infection.
Thomas Markle has been residing in the Philippines for several years and has remained estranged from his daughter, the Duchess of Sussex, since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
