Gemma Collins has thanked her fans for their well wishes as her father Alan fights coronavirus in hospital.
The TOWIE star, 39 – whose mother Joan, 65, is also battling the virus – took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to express her gratitude towards her social media followers for their support.
Admitting COVID-19 is ‘scary and real’, the businesswoman said her dad, 72, is ‘in the best place right now’ as he continues his recovery at Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
‘It’s scary’: Gemma Collins has thanked her fans for their well wishes as her father Alan fights coronavirus in hospital (pictured with mother Joan, who is also battling the virus)
The reality star wrote: ‘The doctors and nurses at QUEENS HOSPITAL have been FANTASTIC !
‘They really are HEROS ❤️ DAD is in the best place right now THANK YOU @nhsengland and THANK YOU for all your well wishes ❤️ this is scary and real ! Do not underestimate this virus.’ (sic)
Former Dancing On Ice contestant Gemma added in an accompanying post: ‘Thank you for all your lovely messages. dad is in hospital the doctors and nurses have been fantastic beyond wonderful thank you to everyone for your kindness.’ (sic)
Earlier in the day, the media personality shared a photo of herself holding her father Alan’s hand at his bedside late as well as a throwback photo of them together.
Grateful: The TOWIE star, 39, took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to express her gratitude towards her social media followers for their support
Update: Admitting COVID-19 is ‘scary and real’, the businesswoman said her dad, 72, is ‘in the best place right now’ as he continues his recovery at Queen’s Hospital in Romford
‘I’m so scared right now’: Earlier in the day, the media personality shared a photo of herself holding her father Alan’s hand at his bedside late as well as a throwback photo of them
The Diva Forever star also thanked the hardworking NHS staff for looking after her dad, and wrote: ‘THANK YOU QUEENS HOSPITAL. NHS. ALL THE AMAZING DOCTORS who are helping my dad right now in hospital. NHS. QUEENS HOSPITAL.
Gemma wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m so scared right now. My dad is so unwell I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime.
‘Covid is so scary laying next to my dad holding his hand right now. I am showing you this to create awareness of how real Covid is’.
It comes after it emerged Gemma took her mother Joan on a Christmas trip to London just days before she became ‘extremely unwell’ with COVID-19.
Harrowing: Gemma held onto her dads hand as she spent the night with him in hospital
Sending best wishes: The blonde said she wanted to share awareness of ‘how real Covid is’, as her parents fight the deadly virus just days before Christmas
The blonde revealed last week she and Joan headed into the capital for a festive outing as they’ve done for many years, adding she was glad they could have their ‘special little Christmas together.’
Gemma’s comments resurfaced just hours after the star revealed both her mum and dad Alan had tested positive for coronavirus.
Speaking in her podcast Gemma said she and her mum were determined to continue with their Christmas tradition by travelling to London.
She said: ‘I love Christmas but this year, leading up to Christmas is always going to be a little bit different because of the pandemic.
Emotional: Addressing Instagram followers on Tuesday, the TV star admitted she was heartbroken after witnessing parents Alan and Joan struggle with the respiratory illness
‘So I took my mum to London because we always used to go to London on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th and we’d drive home on Christmas Eve.’
‘I managed to do that earlier with her and it’s a lovely feeling as when I left London I already felt like I’d had my own Christmas. Me and my mum had our special little Christmas together.’
Gemma didn’t specify when exactly the trip took place, but the episode of her podcast was uploaded last week.
On Tuesday Gemma took to Instagram to reveal she was heartbroken after witnessing parents Alan and Joan – who are both in their 60s – struggle with the impact of COVID-19.
She also urged followers to stay safe and heed all necessary guidelines as huge swathes of England adapts to tighter Tier 4 restrictions in the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus.
Festive break: Gemma took her mother Joan on a Christmas trip to London just days before she became ‘extremely unwell’ with COVID-19
Sharing an image of her mother and father, she wrote: ‘Please please please take notice of the guidelines ! Both my parents are extremely unwell with Covid 19 !
‘Seeing my dad cry which he never does ! Was a shock and say he would rather be dead then experience everything he is going through right now… this has totally wiped him out and it’s heartbreaking… my mum also is extremely extremely unwell with Covid also, this is real !
‘And please please take notice and keep your loved ones SAFE… it really is petrifying. what a difference a year makes ….’
The post comes after Gemma revealed mum Joan had been rushed to hospital with pneumonia in March, shortly before Britain’s first national lockdown.
The Only Way Is Essex star shared a snap of her mum’s hand attached to a drip while praising NHS nurses for taking care of her.
Gemma also revealed that Joan has been at higher risk of contracting an infection as she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.
Worries: The reality icon previously spoke about her mum’s health struggles after Joan was also hospitalised with pneumonia