Princess Diana's former lover suffers heart attack and stroke

James Hewitt, the man who famously had a five-year affair with Princess Diana while she was married to Prince Charles, is reportedly fighting for life after suffering a stroke and heart attack.

The 59-year-old is said to have been rushed to hospital in need of emergency surgery for an exisiting illness, and is now believed to be recovering in intensive care.

“He had a pre-existing illness, then got seriously ill. Suddenly it got very critical and he was rushed to hospital," a family member tells UK newspaper The Mirror.

Doctors originally gave him "a slim chance of survival", but the source says, “it was pretty serious but hopefully we’re all OK now."

Hewitt received emergency treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in England's south, and is to stay there for the next few weeks to recuperate.

He recently gave a rare interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night denying rumours that he is Prince Harry's father, which have been ongoing since the affair was revealed.

In the interview he was asked if it has been difficult to deal with over 30 years of speculation that he is the father of Harry.

He said: "It's worse for him, probably, poor chap."

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James met Princess Diana in 1986 and had a five-year ongoing affair.

They parted ways after their love affair was made public and the army officer went off to Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War.

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