Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas, has had his leg amputated below the knee after receiving a life-saving operation.
He underwent the three-hour surgery on Wednesday evening after a blood clot cut off circulation, turning his lower leg black.
His son, Thomas Jr, confirmed his father had the operation last night, saying: “My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly.
“I took him to a local hospital and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated.
“There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death.”
The retired lighting director was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency at home.
He was then rushed via ambulance to a bigger hospital, where doctors immediately took him into surgery to remove the leg.
He also now faces a procedure to remove another clot in his left thigh.
Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas, has had his leg amputated below the knee after receiving a life-saving operation
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ITV
“One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical,” Thomas Jr said. “His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in – sepsis or gangrene. The flesh was black and dying.
“There was no option given. It was either ‘we have to operate now and remove the leg or he may die.
“It was a life-threatening situation.”
According to doctors treating Mr Markle, who spoke to the Daily Mail, the next few days are “critical”.
One doctor said: “The wound is healing but the next 24 to 72 hours are critical.
“We need to make sure the wound heals and does not become infected. At the moment he is in stable condition and doing well.
“But, at his age, that could change quickly.”
Mr Markle, 81, has been estranged from his daughter, Meghan, since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.
He has been living in the Philippines since January, moving over from the United States because he was “constantly reminded” of his daughter and in search of a “quieter life”.
He has never met either of his grandchildren; Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. He also has never met son-in-law Prince Harry.
Mr Markle has been struggling with his health for numerous years, suffering two heart attacks on the night before Meghan’s wedding, preventing him from getting on a plane from Los Angeles to London.
King Charles walked the Duchess of Sussex partway down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, something Mr Markle said: “was the most gracious and kind thing to do. I shall be forever in his debt.”