Coronation Street star Simon Gregson reveals how wife was just ‘two hours from death’
CORONATION STREET favourite Simon Gregson nearly lost his wife Emma Gleave after she suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
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The actor, who has played Coronation Street’s Steve McDonald since 1989, and his spouse of eight years have endured 12 miscarriages in total but are proud parents of three sons.
However, last September, the 43-year-old was told his other half was just “two hours from death” and needed emergency surgery to save her life.
In this week’s issue of OK! Magazine, Simon recalled the moment Emma nearly died after suffering severe stomach pains following weeks of feeling ill.
“Up to that point we didn’t know I was pregnant so it came as a double blow to us. It was hard to get our heads around what was happening,” she commented.
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They told me Emma would’ve died if it had been left for a few more hours
After first thinking it was constipation, Emma was rushed to hospital one morning when she was no longer able to stand where she told it was a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
She revealed: “I was petrified. I thought I was never going to see my sons ever again.
“As they were taking me down to theatre I just kept thinking, I’m going to die – this is it, I’m not going to make it.”
Emma continued: “As they were prepping me for surgery I had to keep signing lots of forms. I just felt devastated and so overwhelmed. It was the most frightening time I’ve ever had.”
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Simon went on: “They told me Emma would’ve died if it had been left for a few more hours. She was literally two hours away from death.”
The couple also spoke out about having more children in the future and adding to their brood: Alfie, 10, Harry, eight, and two-year-old Henry.
The star added: “I think as Emma has come so close to death, that’s it for us. We originally thought Emma couldn’t carry girls, but she so desperately wanted a little girl.
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“I would love her to have one – but now, after nearly losing her, I’m going in and having the snip.”
“I don’t think my mind or body could do it any more,” Emma stated.
Their personal struggles first came to light thanks to the ITV soap, when Simon’s alter ego and his on-screen wife Michelle Connor (played by Kym Marsh) lost their little boy, Ruairi, after going into labour at just 23 weeks.
Meanwhile, actress Kym also lost her little boy Archie with former husband Jamie Lomas back in 2009 after he was born prematurely.
Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today.
Coronation Street continues tonight at 7.30pm on ITV.