Loose Women stars furious over clip of ITV News' Rageh Omaar falling ill on air

ITV News' Rageh Omaar was rushed to hospital after falling ill live on air and his Loose Women co-star Charlene White has hit out at those sharing the clip.

13:10, Sun, Apr 28, 2024 | UPDATED: 15:15, Sun, Apr 28, 2024

Rageh Omaar ‘receiving medical care’ after becoming ‘unwell’ live on-air

Loose Women's Charlene White has lodged a strong plea following the incident of her ITV News co-star Rageh Omaar falling ill during a live TV segment. Joining her in expressing their dismay was fellow Loose Women panelist Denise Welch, following the circulation of a video clip showing Rageh struggling considerably with his speech whilst delivering his report.

The presenter, aged 56, was seen to display difficulty during the final segment of Friday's news programme and immediately after concluding the show, he was rushed to hospital to receive urgent care. Although the exact nature of his health concern remains undisclosed, it has been speculated that early symptoms of a mini-stroke, or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), were manifesting.

Charlene responded strongly to those who opted to share the footage of Rageh in his disadvantaged state, with many viewers jumping to conclusions about his health condition before any official statement had been released concerning the issue.

Lashing out on social platforms including Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), The Loose Women presenter stated: "How about everyone stops posting and re-posting a video of a man becoming unwell live on TV. Who does that benefit? Sometimes real life isn't just about upping your engagement figures, and upping your likes".

Loose Women's Denise Welch joined her co-star in expressing her dismay, commenting on Charlene's post: "My thoughts exactly Charlene. Honestly this world [angry face emojis]."

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Loose Women Charlene White

Charlene has spoken out after Rageh Omaar fell ill (Image: ITV)

Loose Women's Denise Welch

Denise took to Instagram to agree with Charlene (Image: Instagram)

This prompted another individual to express their shock that Rageh wasn't taken off air immediately for medical care, stating: "Totally agree with you both but where was ITV's duty of care for the poor bloke. They should have cut the stream or went to a break immediately to get him medical attention. It's not like it was a coughing fit etc.", reports the Mirror.

An insider from ITV News revealed to the Mail on Sunday that although efforts were made to replace Rageh as he struggled on air, he was adamant about finishing the broadcast: "The programme team were trying to replace him when they realised there was a problem.

"They sent the standby presenter to the set to take over but he insisted on remaining on air. No-one could get him out of his chair. He refused to move. Even when he was told he had to go and that the team had called for medical help. Everyone did everything they could to help him. Rageh is a consummate professional. He was determined to finish what he had started. It was an awful, awful night."

Staff nurse Fiona Clark raised immediate alarm bells as she watched Rageh Omaar on ITV at 10.30pm, noticing all the classic Fast signs of a stroke - slurred speech, a dropped left eye and agitation. She flagged her critical observation: "as an ICU nurse who worked in stroke, that Rageh Omaar required an emergency ambulance, he was dysphasic, drooped left eye, slurred speech and agitated all Fast symptoms."

Rageh was released from hospital the next day and is now recuperating at home with his family. The condition he suffered, known as a TIA or mini-stroke, results from a temporary interruption of blood flow to part of the brain, which can be caused by a blood clot or narrowing of the arteries.