LONG-serving Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell is recovering in hospital today after collapsing and banging his head outside the Houses of Parliament.
As reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk yesterday, Austin was crossing New Palace Yard, one of the courtyards outside Parliament, on Monday night when he passed out and hit his head on the ground.
The 78-year-old was rushed to King's College Hospital – where popular television show 24 Hours In A&E is filmed – and doctors began a series of tests to try to establish what had happened.
Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, his wife, Linda McDougall, said Austin has been unwell for a number of weeks and had actually visited the doctor to discuss his symptoms on the morning of his collapse.
She added: "He hasn't been very well for a couple of weeks now and has been suffering from dizzy spells.
"He was at parliament and went in to vote with the other MPs and then as he was crossing New Palace Yard on the way out he passed out.
"He hit his head very badly and has a terrible bruise. He looks like he's been in the ring with Muhammad Ali."
Austin was lucky that one of the police officers who was guarding the courtyard was a trained paramedic and nurse.
He tended to Austin at the scene while an ambulance was called and the veteran MP was at King's College Hospital – which specialises in treating head injuries – within 15 minutes.
Linda added: "I rushed down to see him and he looked terrible.
"Luckily, he still has his sense of humour.
"When I arrived at the hospital he was trying to take photographs of his injuries on his mobile phone while lying in the emergency room so I knew he was still himself!"
Austin has been Labour MP for Great Grimsby since the 1977 by-election.
He began suffering from an uneven heartbeat 15 years ago and is on medication.
Linda added: "There are still more tests to be carried out but doctors believe he has developed a heart arrhythmia, which is where the heart can stop beating for a while.
"Fitting a pacemaker will be the likely solution and hopefully that will be the end of it."
Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "I was saddened to hear that Austin had been taken ill while he was at the Houses of Parliament carrying out his role of serving the people of Grimsby.
"On behalf of the council, I wish him well for a speedy recovery.
"I was due to meet with him this Friday but that has now been postponed and we will reconvene when he has made a full recovery.
"That is the most important thing."
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