Judd suffers appendicitis while shooting in hospital

Ashley Judd survived a potentially fatal bout of appendicitis because she was filming in a hospital when she fell ill.

The actress was shooting new movie Helen in Vancouver, Canada when an acute attack of the illness led to a collapse on set at Ridge Meadows Hospital on 25 November.

Judd was immediately admitted to the same medical centre and underwent emergency surgery to remove her diseased appendix.

A source tells the National Enquirer: "Luckily, the cast and crew were filming at a real hospital, so when paramedics arrived, they simply put Ashley on a stretcher and wheeled her into an operating room nearby."

While Judd recovers, production on Helen has been halted.