Sports Presenter Charlie Webster Contracts Rare Form of Malaria in Rio
British TV presenter Charlie Webster is currently fighting for her life in a Brazilian hospital after being struck down by a rare strain of malaria on her way to the Olympic Games. She made her way to the Brazilian city as part of a team who cycled 3,000 miles from the UK over a six-week period to raise money for a cancer charity…
The 33-year-old former Sky Sports News anchor began feeling unwell while attending the opening ceremony but put it down to dehydration – even tweeting pictures of herself from a hospital bed. Although the doctors identified the very rare malaria strain she contracted, her publicist revealed that her condition has since deteriorated. Charlie is now in an induced coma and on a life support machine.
Webster’s family, including her mother and brother, have flown to be at her bedside as she said to be receiving the right treatment in one of the best hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.