Bondi Vet star, 39, is hospitalised with suspected neurological illness after ‘repeatedly dropping his phone and jumbling up words’ – just months after the birth of his daughter
Bondi Vet star and emergency veterinarian Dr Gerardo Poli was hospitalised last week with a suspected neurological illness.
The 39-year-old’s partner and co-star Dr Alex Hynes confirmed the news on Monday, after noticing he’d been ‘acting strangely’ a week earlier.
‘About a week ago, he started behaving strangely. His speech was slow and he would jumble up words,’ Dr Hynes, 44, who works with Dr Poli at Brisbane’s Animal Emergency Service (AES) as a senior veterinarian, wrote on Instagram.
Hospitalised: Dr Gerardo Poli, from Brisbane’s Animal Emergency Service, was hospitalised last week with a suspected neurological illness
‘He repeatedly dropped his phone on the ground, tripped over his own feet and bumped into the edge of doorways. The scariest part of all was that he had no awareness that anything was wrong,’ she continued.
‘On Thursday, he sat down at his computer and realised he couldn’t type on the keyboard. For some reason that was the thing that broke through his consciousness and allowed me to get him the help he needed.’
Dr Hynes said her partner was admitted to the neurology ward of the Mater Hospital on September 30, and praised the ‘incredible medical team’ working on a diagnosis.
The hospital trip came just six months after the pair welcomed a daughter, Lorelai.
Partner: The 39-year-old’s partner and co-star Dr Alex Hynes (right), who works with Dr Poli (left) at Brisbane’s Animal Emergency Service (AES) as a senior veterinarian, confirmed the news on Monday, after noticing he’d been ‘acting strangely’ a week earlier
‘At this stage all we know is he has a form of encephalitis-inflammation of the brain. [It’s] probably autoimmune in nature but likely triggered by a recent respiratory virus he had been battling,’ she added.
On the same day, Dr Poli thanked his friends, family and fans for their well-wishes on social media, and also posted a photo of himself cuddling Lorelai.
‘It does not take much to forget what is important to you,’ he wrote.
‘I am by no means on death’s door but being there for Lorelai (a.k.a. Potato) when she needs me, teaching her all the bad things and making her laugh are the things that I cherish the most.
‘I have a great team here at @materprivate… and I am sure we will get to the bottom of what is going on. As always there is my biggest supporter and advocate @dralexhynes – if it was not for her I would not be where I am.
Thank you: On the same day, Dr Poli thanked his friends, family and fans for their well-wishes on social media, and also posted a photo of himself cuddling his six-month-old daughter
‘Thanks for all the messages of love and concern. Don’t worry I have a lot left to do in this world. So before long I will be back on my feet. Love you all. G x.’
In 2017, Dr Hynes was one of the veterinarians chosen to be featured on Bondi Vet: Coast to Coast, after former ‘Bondi Vet’ Dr Chris Brown quit the show.
Dr Poli, who is a director at AES alongside his partner, joined the series later on.
The couple recently launched a YouTube show called Bondi Vet: ER.
Dr Hynes has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. She and Dr Poli welcomed their daughter, Lorelai, in April this year.
Blended family: Dr Hynes has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. She and Dr Poli welcomed their daughter, Lorelai (pictured), in April this year