'It was the worst attack I've had': Ray Hadley opens up about his ongoing health battles after falling seriously ill live on air
- Ray Hadley was forced off the air after suffering medical episode on Monday
- The 64-year-old will remain in hospital after diverticulitis spread to his blood
- His colleague Mark Levy has stepped in to take over the morning show for now
Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley has revealed the health scare that saw him rush off air on Monday was 'the worst attack of his life'.
The 2GB host dramatically told listeners 'I'm about to have, I think, an attack' before he was taken off air with stomach pains from diverticulitis - a painful inflammation of the gut.
The 64-year-old, who has been battling the infection for years, has been temporarily replaced by stand-in host Mark Levy.
On Friday Hadley called Levy on air to explain to listeners what had happened.
Ray Hadley was abruptly forced off the air after suffering a medical episode
'I was feeling fine, I was about to do the interview with Tracey Grimshaw… I walked out of the studio and it hit me like a tonne of bricks,' Hadley said.
'It was the worst attack I've had.'
Hadley was rushed to hospital where he will have to stay for some time.
'Unfortunately the infection is now in his blood, so Ray will remain in hospital for now,' the Sydney station said in a statement on Wednesday.
'His specialist is confident the problem can be managed with continuing treatment.
'Ray sends his thanks to his listeners for their support and well-wishes, and will provide an update on his condition later this week.'
Mark Levy took over the morning show on Monday after Hadley said live on air: 'I'm about to have, I think, an attack and the only thing I can do is get to my GP, talk to him and get something done about it'.
'I've been battling a problem since last night. It's a problem that I encounter every couple of years. It's called diverticulitis,' he told listeners.
Diverticulitis is a serious medical condition which affects the digestive tract by causing inflamed pouches in the lining of the intestine.
Symptoms of diverticulitis can include nausea, fever, severe abdominal pain, bloody bowel movements, abscesses and fistulas.
Diverticulitis attacks require immediate medical attention.
Hadley released a statement on Monday afternoon to provide an update on his condition.
'I'm currently in hospital having been admitted for the third time in twelve months for diverticulitis.
'I will be consulting my surgeon about a more permanent solution – which may well involve surgery during my summer break,' he said.
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'Thank you to all the people who have shown concern.'
Hadley suffered a severe bout of the condition in March this year and was unable to go on air. He called his colleagues at the time to update them on how he was tracking.
'It's a rotten sort of thing… and there's no cure,' he says.
'I'll be out of here [hospital] tomorrow morning and back at work on Monday, all being well.'
Hadley explained the condition can strike within minutes.
'Yesterday I was on top of the world feeling really good, and about 10 minutes later I hit the deck… with a whole range of stomach pains and things like that,' he said.
Mark Levy took over the morning show on Monday after Hadley said live on air: 'I'm about to have, I think, an attack'
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