Actor Zack Orji has described how he practically cheated death.
The Nollywood actor described how he slumped and passed out in the bathroom, and was there for nearly six hours before help came and he was whisked to the National Hospital, Abuja.
He subsequently underwent two brain surgeries.
Orji revealed this in an interview on Channels TV on Sunday, detailing how he slumped in the bathroom, resulting in medical emergency.
“I slumped in the bathroom, and I can only say that it’s by the grace of God that I’m alive today because I passed out. I was out for like five and a half hours before help came,” Orji shared.
Orji’s friend, Bala Ahmed, who was in the UK at the time, was alerted by people at Orji’s house, prompting a swift response from colleagues who rushed to his aid.
“Benedict Johnson rushed to the house, and I was there on the floor, incoherent. I couldn’t even stand because when he raised me, I slumped again, and he had to call another colleague whom we call Labista.
“So, the two of them lifted me on their shoulders from the second floor to the ground floor and took me to the National Hospital,” Orji recounted.
Orji’s wife, who was in Lagos at the time, flew to Abuja upon receiving the news, and on January 1, the first surgery was performed by Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, a neurosurgeon.
“He’s an awesome guy,” Orji enthused.
A month later, after scans revealed a residual blood clot, Orji underwent a second surgery, performed by the same doctor.
Orji noted that he received support from prominent figures, including President Bola Tinubu, wife and son; as well as the Vice President’s wife, and many ministers.
He said, “But in all of it, I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in.
“The President of Nigeria, the First Lady, wife of the Vice President, the President’s son, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, the Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, the Minister for Works, and a whole lot of other people.
“I was receiving calls from South Africa, from the UK, from the US. Some of them were asking me, ‘How can we help? How can we be of assistance?’
“So, it was overwhelming the way people responded to the whole thing,” Orji expressed.
After his recovery in Nigeria, Orji was advised to seek post-surgery assessment in the UK, where he consulted with Dr. John Yeh.
“I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in,” Orji stated.
