Simon Gregson says his wife nearly died after suffering an ectopic pregnancy.

Simon Gregson

Simon Gregson

The 'Coronation Street' actor is so grateful to NHS staff after they saved Emma Gleave's life after she miscarried for the 12th time.

Emma said: "In September last year I started to feel a little unwell, and I just got this pure pain in my stomach where I couldn't even stand up. I knew immediately that something was wrong. Simon decided to take me into Wythenshawe Hospital, which was our local hospital."

Simon added: "I was a bit worried because Emma is kind of like all the special forces rolled into one small body. So if she's in pain, she's in pain."

The couple - who have three sons, Alfie, 10 , Harry, eight and two-year-old Teddy - were left shaken after being told by doctors that Emma had suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

She said: "The surgeon at the time told me that I'd had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Being told that was probably the scariest moment of my entire life, because I didn't know what an ectopic pregnancy was.

"And then kind of dealing with the fact that afterwards that the pregnancy wasn't going to carry on.

"The staff at Wythenshawe Hospital absolutely saved my life. Other women don't have the outcome that I had unfortunately. So I was very lucky."

Simon - who has played Steve McDonald in the ITV soap since 1989 - went on to share how he felt the moment he heard the news.

Speaking in a joint interview with Emma on 'Lorraine', he said: "That's when the realisation hit home that this is very serious. I mean, the surgeon said afterwards that another couple of hours and she very possibly may have died.

"I think it's great to be able to raise awareness and help people understand how brilliant the staff at the NHS are."

Last year, the actor revealed Emma had suffered 11 miscarriages over the years.

He said: "Me and Emma have lost children. First one at 21 weeks and four days. As a bloke being there and witness to all this, you feel completely helpless.

"Your wife who has carried the baby and has not given birth to the baby ... then there's all the stuff that goes along with being a human being - the chemical reaction, everything that goes on in your brain."


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