Michael Winner 'facing amputation' after holiday illness

Veteran film director and food critic Michael Winner is being treated in hospital after falling ill while on holiday in Barbados.

Winner, 71, is being treated at The London Clinic, a private hospital in Harley Street.

Doctors have told him they might have to amputate his diseased leg to save his life, The Daily Mirror reported.

The Cambridge-educated director of the Death Wish series of films replied: “I would rather die than have it cut off,“ according to the paper.

Winner was taken to the Bayview Hospital in Barbados by ambulance on January 3, apparently after suffering an allergic reaction to medication prescribed a few days earlier for a fever.

At the time he told The Daily Mail: “Unfortunately, I had an absolutely dreadful reaction to the antibiotic and I came out in enormous blood blisters on my left leg.

“They covered the entire inside of my leg and each one was five inches long.

“Then they all burst and I was rushed to hospital with the sirens blaring.”

Before flying back to the UK for further treatment, Winner complained about his Caribbean hospital.

He said: “It’s horrible here. They’re doing their best but the food is disgusting.”

It is not the first time Winner has suffered from a serious medical condition.

He underwent a heart bypass operation in 1993 and spent two days in a private London hospital in 2003 for an undisclosed complaint.

The film director remains in hospital but is making good progress, The London Clinic said.

In a statement, the hospital said: “Mr Winner remains an in-patient at The London Clinic, receiving expert medical and nursing care.

“His condition is under constant review and he is making good progress.”