Stephen Graham had emergency operation on a plane after ‘very scary’ health problem
A crisis at 10,000 feet.
Stephen Graham may be known for his intense on-screen performances, but his recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers showcased a very different side of the acclaimed British actor.
A story the Adolescence star, 51, told on the show has gone viral online for good reason: It involves mid-air panic, unexpected medical heroics, and the actor ‘dropping his kecks.’
Prompted by Meyers’ question about a particularly eventful journey to the United States, the A Thousand Blows star chuckled and admitted it had been ‘a hell of an experience.’
‘I’m of a certain age now,’ Graham began. ‘You know, once you hit 45, the trips to the loo start to rack up.’
That complaint led the actor to seek a medical solution months prior – a non-invasive procedure designed to reduce frequent urination by slightly enlarging the prostate, often aided by a catheter.
For a while, everything had been fine. That is, until Graham found himself at 10,000 feet and suddenly unable to urinate. ‘It just didn’t feel right,’ he recalled. He returned to his seat and downed more water, hoping it would work itself out.
But the next time he visited the toilet, things took a frightening turn.
‘Long story short, I went, but it was just pure blood,’ he said. ‘It was very scary. I couldn’t stop this trajectory of blood and I’m having a slight panic attack. I’m about to cry and I’m having a moment,’ Graham added.
Earlier that day, Graham had posed for a selfie at the gate with a fan, who, as luck would have it, was a doctor. Even better? The doctor’s travel companion was a surgeon.
Once the severity of Graham’s situation became clear, the cabin crew sprang into action. ‘Next minute, the doctor comes around the corner and goes, “Stephen!” and I’m like, “Doc! Hello!”‘
Graham had the audience in stitches as he related the high-stakes tale(Picture: Late Night with Seth Meyers/YouTube/NBC) After Adolescence, Graham has risen to international stardom (Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
What happened next could rival the drama of any Graham-led series. The space between economy and first class was hastily converted into an operating bay. Curtains were drawn, medical kits opened, and the lounge area sterilized.
‘I dropped me kecks, got on the couch, and they performed a catheter procedure right there,’ Graham said.
The cause? A blood clot that had lodged behind his urethra. But once it was removed, Graham described the relief in the most Graham way possible: ‘It was one of the nicest experiences with me and my penis,’ he quipped, grinning. ‘I came running out like a kid who’d just learned to use the toilet.’
He also made sure to commemorate the surreal incident: ‘We took a photo at the end, me, the doctors, and the flight crew. Wonderful people.’
What could have been a nightmare turned into a memorable, oddly uplifting tale of mid-air humanity – and one more reason fans continue to love Stephen Graham.
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