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The family of iconic Australian entertainer Barry Humphries has rushed to his bedside amid conflicting reports surrounding his health.
St Vincent鈥檚 Hospital confirmed to the Herald Sun that Humphries is 鈥渞esponsive and stable,鈥� following an earlier report - apparently also from the hospital, and first aired on ABC Radio earlier today - that he had gone into an 鈥渦nresponsive state.鈥�
鈥淪t Vincent鈥檚 Hospital in the last hour have gone public and said in fact he鈥檚 alert and he鈥檚 cracking jokes with the nursing staff, so they seem like two very extreme ends of the spectrum,鈥� entertainment reporter Peter Ford said on 6PR today, referring to the earlier report of him being unresponsive.
鈥淲hen I heard the initial report about being unresponsive it didn鈥檛 totally surprise me, given the gravity of the situation and the fact that I do know they have been increasing his morphine levels over the last couple of days. But to hear the other suggestion that he in fact awake and cracking jokes with nursing staff does surprise me a lot. I hope that鈥檚 the truth but we can only just wait and watch and see.鈥�
Barry Humphries' family including his estranged daughter have rushed to his bedside. Photo / Supplied
鈥淎s we have been reporting all week, Barry has been in an increasingly perilous state of health, all these complications from the fall, the hip replacement,鈥� Ford said.
鈥淗is children were told in the beginning of the week it would be advisable if they wanted to come see him to do so 鈥� and they are all there right now along with his wife, Lizzie.鈥�
As Humphries鈥� health took a turn, his sons, Oscar and Rupert, travelled from London to be by his side along with his daughter, Emily, who he was estranged from for two decades.
According to Ford, the father and daughter only reconciled at his hospital bedside after more than 20 years of friction.
鈥淚t is a really serious situation. I don鈥檛 expect there鈥檚 going to be a good outcome,鈥�
Ford told radio hosts Steve 鈥淢illsy鈥� Mills and Karl Langdon on Perth radio program聽6PR Breakfast听测别蝉迟别谤诲补测.
鈥淏arry鈥檚 two sons arrived from London [on Tuesday] and they were told basically this would be a good time to get on a plane and get to Sydney as quickly as possible.
鈥淎nd he also did reconcile with his daughter who he has not spoken to for over 20 years,鈥� Ford added. 鈥淭hey had a bedside meeting and that鈥檚 a good thing that that鈥檚 happened. Largely, now it鈥檚 just a waiting game.鈥�
Humphries 鈥� who is famous for his hilarious alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson 鈥� had been living in London for about 40 years with his wife, Lizzie Spender. It was during a holiday in Sydney this summer that he suffered the fall and was hospitalised.
It was Ford who broke news of Humphries鈥� readmission to hospital earlier this week on Seven鈥檚 breakfast program聽Sunrise, sharing that the comic was determined to be back on stage by the year鈥檚 end.
鈥淏arry won鈥檛 give up easily. Whether that鈥檚 a realistic goal, I don鈥檛 know,鈥� he said at the time. 鈥淚 am told that Barry鈥檚 health has worsened in the last week.鈥�
In an interview with the聽Sydney Morning Herald聽last month, before being readmitted to hospital, Humphries said he had been in agony for several months since the fall and was undergoing 鈥渧ery painful鈥� rehabilitation sessions.
鈥淚t was the most ridiculous thing, like all domestic incidents are. I was reaching for a book, my foot got caught on a rug or something, and down I went,鈥� he said.
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