Wiggles lead singer Greg Page suffers from a crippling nervous system disorder that caused him to collapse during a reunion concert for bushfire relief.
Page, who is the original Yellow Wiggle, suffered from a cardiac arrest due to orthostatic intolerance at the concert at Castle Hill RSL in Sydney on Friday.
Orthostatic intolerance translates to ‘upright intolerance’, meaning that whenever Page stands up for a prolonged period of time, he risks his life.
People with orthostatic intolerance have a nervous system that struggles to pump enough blood around the body, which prompted Page’s cardiac arrest.
The original Wiggles lineup were moments away from performing their final song, Hot Potato, when Page suddenly collapsed.
Since Page was standing upright for a long period of time, 750ml of blood flowed away from his head and down to his legs, putting immense pressure on his heart.
Wiggles lead singer Greg Page suffers from a crippling nervous system disorder that caused him to collapse during a reunion concert for bushfire relief on FridayHe is pictured at a concert in Miami Beach in 2012
At the concert on Friday, shocked revellers were left stunned as the show was suddenly stopped, with paramedics rushing to Page’s side to perform CPR.
A while later, the rest of the band returned and told the 800-strong crowd their singer ‘needed medical attention’.
Page is now at Westmead Hospital in a ‘serious but stable condition’ after the near-death experience.
In a statement, The Wiggles said: ‘As has been reported, our friend Greg Page suffered a cardiac arrest at the end of the bushfire relief performance and was taken to hospital.
‘He has had a procedure and is now recovering in hospital. We appreciate your kind messages and concern.’
After the show, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field shared a photo of the band backstage and said on Instagram: ‘We are all in shock, please get better mate, I’m praying for you.’
On Twitter, one Wiggles fan highlighted the severity of Page’s condition.
‘He’s literally risked his life by performing in the name of fundraising. What a man,’ he wrote.
On Twitter, one man highlighted the severity of Page’s condition.
In a video from the packed-out concert on Friday night, Greg Page (right, in yellow) can be seen desperately grappling for something to hold on to as he collapsed by the side of stage
Video from Friday night shows Greg Page (right, in yellow) falling to the floor as he collapsed, sparking an urgent call to paramedics
Behind Red Wiggle Murray Cook, the sleeve of Greg Page’s iconic yellow top (right) can be seen after he suffered the terrifying collapse
Page’s life-threatening condition is what forced him to initially quit The Wiggles in November, 2006 after withdrawing from the group’s US tour that year.
He was also wrongly told he had ‘seven years to live’ by a doctor.
‘To be feeling the way you feel – tired, lethargic, heavy-chested, light-headed and just vague, and to be missing your mouth when you go to eat things – that was a pretty raw moment,’ Page said of his condition to The Sydney Morning Herald in 2009.
It comes after his doctor previously warned the illness means he would need to ‘be careful with the rigors’ of performing.
Symptoms of the life-threatening condition include dizzy spells, queasy episodes, trembling, slurred speech and fatigue.
Moments before Page collapsed, he seemed to be healthy and functioning normally.
‘Thank you everybody,’ he was seen saying as he waved to the crowd and smiled.
‘Thanks for coming to support all of those wonderful people doing all that great work for everyone.’
As the crowd cheered enthusiastically, Page walked to the side of the stage and collapsed.
Blue Wiggle Anthony Field shared a photo of the group backstage, writing: ‘We are all in shock, please get better mate, I’m praying for you’
Wiggles characters are seen rushing to the side of the stage on Friday (pictured) shortly after Page collapsed
The Wiggles’ Greg Page (pictured, in yellow) is seen on stage just minutes before his dramatic collapse in Sydney on Friday
People were then seen rushing to his aid as the stage curtain drew in to hide him from the audience.
A short while later, the original Red Wiggle, Murray Cook, returned and said Greg ‘was not feeling real well’.
‘Guys I think we’re going to end it there,’ he said.
‘Greg’s not feeling real well. I think he’s going to be OK but he’s not feeling real well so I don’t think we can go on with another song.’
The other band members later returned to the stage to sing fan favourite Hot Potato, dedicating it to their friend.
‘We’re going to sing it for Greg and hope he gets better real quick,’ blue Wiggle Anthony Field said.
At 11.20pm, the band released a statement on Twitter saying Page was in hospital.
A concertgoer shared a photo of the ambulance which arrived to treat Page (pictured) after his collapse on stage
Greg Page (pictured, left) waves to the excited crowds in Sydney on Friday night just minutes before he dramatically collapsed and was rushed to hospital
The original Wiggles line-up reunited for the sold-out bushfire relief concert in Sydney. Here they are pictured in 2012, the last time they performed together
‘At the end of the show this evening there was a medical incident off stage involving Greg Page,’ it said.
‘Medics were called immediately and he was taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment. We will provide more information as it comes to hand.’
A second update four hours later said: ‘Our friend Greg Page suffered a cardiac arrest at the end of the bushfire relief performance and was taken to hospital.
‘He has had a procedure and is now recovering in hospital. We appreciate your kind messages and concern.’
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said paramedics were called at around 10pm on Friday night to the Castle Hill RSL after reports a man had gone into cardiac arrest.
They said a 48-year-old male who had collapsed was being treated in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
He was breathing when paramedics arrived, but crews performed CPR.
In autobiography Page first revealed his struggle with orthostatic intolerance, which forced him to quit the Wiggles in 2006.
Those who suffer with the condition often go undiagnosed for years.
The frightening circulatory condition caused Page (pictured, back) to leave the Wiggles back in 2006
This means that when they stand for a long period of time, the blood can pool in their legs and cause them to faint.
‘Just knowing that what I had had a name, and it wasn’t terminal, and it could be treated was wonderful. I feel like I’m getting a second chance,’ he wrote.
His physician, Dr. Susan Corcoran, told People: ‘Simple measures have been effective in helping his condition, but he’ll need to be careful with the rigors of the tour.’
In his book, Page discussed the painful decision to quit the band to focus on his health.
His condition saw him suffer ’bouts of acute dizziness’ that left him ‘unable to stand, speak or think without great difficulty’.
The singer also admitted that the struggle to get diagnosed left him suffering from depression.
On Friday night, concerned fans immediately took to social media to express their fears for the beloved star.
The original Wiggles – Greg, Anthony, Murray, and Jeff – reunited for their first show together since 2012 (pictured)
‘Greg from the Wiggles collapsed during the charity concert and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance and I’m literally crying over it,’ one fan wrote.
‘Please I love him he was part of my childhood. I really hope he’s okay.’
‘All my love to Greg and his family,’ another wrote.
‘He was truly a champion tonight, powering through for those in need. We’re all hoping and praying for his recovery.’
Page has two children, Madison and Blaine, with his ex-wife Michelle Charlton.
He married his second wife, Vanessa, in 2011 and had two more children.
A keen Elvis Presley fans, he has the fourth largest collection of Elvis memorabilia in the world.
Current Wiggles Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins, Lachlan Gillespie and Anthony Field (left to right) are seen in November 2019 in Sydney
The original Wiggles, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Anthony Field joined Page at the concert, marking the first time the original line-up performed together since 2012.
Currently, only one of the original line-up, Blue Wiggle Field, is in the official band.
He is joined by Simon Pryce, as well as divorced couple Lachlan Gillespie and Emma Watkins.
Discussing her split from her husband, and fellow Wiggles performer, after two years of marriage, Ms Watkins said they are still ‘best friends’.
‘We’re basically back to being best friends again which is nice,’ she told the Project in December.
She said their relationship has been ‘so good’ despite working closely together and the fact that she now dates Wiggles musician Oliver Brian.
Wiggles star Emma Watkins (pictured, left) said her relationship with her estranged husband Lachlan Gillespie (right) has developed to the point they are once again ‘best friends’
‘Lachy’ and Yellow Wiggle Ms Watkins left their fans stunned when they announced the end of their two-year marriage back in August 2018.
They pair joined the Wiggles in 2013, and began dating just weeks later.
But they kept their romance secret for the next two years as they performed all around the world.
In March 2015, the couple went public with their relationship and became engaged just two months later.