meghan markle

Meghan’s dad has been rushed to hospital (Image: ITV / GETTY)

Thomas Markle Jr. has made an urgent plea to his half-sister, Meghan Markle, as his dad is rushed into intensive care. Thomas Markle, 81, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after falling ill at home.

It is understood he underwent surgery on Thursday and was transferred to the intensive care unit tonight, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Thomas Markle Jr. made a five-word plea to the Duchess of Sussex to “show my father some compassion”. He said: “My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life.”

Meghan’s dad has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke in recent years and has been living in Mexico for the past 10 years before relocating to the Philippines in January.

 

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has been estranged from her father since her wedding (Image: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

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Thomas Jr. added: “I took dad to a hospital close to our home and they did various scans and the doctors said his life was in imminent danger.

“They raced us by ambulance, with the sirens going, to a much bigger hospital in the centre of the city. My dad has undergone emergency surgery.”

“I would ask everyone around the world to keep him in their thoughts.”

Meanwhile, Meghan’s half-sister Samantha Markle added: “He is a strong man, but he has been through so much. I am praying that he is strong enough to survive this.”

Thomas Markle JNR

Thomas Markle JR has been looking after his dad in the Philippines (Image: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

Thomas has been struggling with his health for numerous years, suffering two heart attacks on the night before Meghan’s wedding, preventing him from getting on a plane from Los Angeles to London.

King Charles walked the Duchess of Sussex partway down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, something Thomas said: “I shall be forever in his debt.”

Thomas said in January that he will “always love” his estranged daughter, despite “not liking some of the things she has done.”

Meghan’s dad and mum, Doria Ragland, were married from 1979 to 1987. Thomas welcomed Samantha and Thomas Jr. with his first ex-wife, Roslyn Markle.