Carrie Fisher is spending Christmas in intensive care, but is in stable condition, mom Debbie Reynolds says
“Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher was spending Christmas in intensive care at UCLA Medical Center two days after suffering a “cardiac episode” during a flight from London to Los Angeles.
Fisher’s mother, entertainer Debbie Reynolds, said on Twitter on Sunday that her daughter was in stable condition.
“If there is a change, we will share it. For all her fans & friends, I thank you for your prayers & good wishes,” Reynolds tweeted.
Fisher, 60, was rushed to the hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics shortly after noon Friday, after her 11-hour flight touched down at LAX.
A source who was not authorized to discuss the incident said the actress was “in a lot of distress on the flight.”
Hospital officials have not provided any details about Fisher’s condition. But family members have suggested doctors have been able to stabilize her.
“She’s obviously a very tough girl who’s survived many things,” Todd Fisher, Carrie Fisher’s brother, told KABC-TV Channel 7. “I encourage everyone to pray for her.”
A statement released by United Airlines said that medical personnel met Flight 935 from London on arrival Friday after the crew reported a passenger was unresponsive.
“Our thoughts are with our customer at this time,” the statement read.
Just prior to arrival, a pilot told the control tower that passengers who were nurses were attending to an “unresponsive” passenger.
“They’re working on her right now,” the pilot said in a public recording of the conversation on liveatc.net.
According to the Los Angeles Airport Police, officers responded to Terminal 7 around 12:15 p.m. to a call of a female passenger in cardiac arrest. On arrival, they found paramedics performing CPR on the victim, according to Officer Alicia Hernandez.
Fisher, who rose to stardom as Princess Leia on “Star Wars,” recently published an autobiography titled “The Princess Diarist,” her eighth book.
She is the daughter of famous Hollywood couple Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.
Fisher, who has written and spoken openly about her struggles in the movie business, is considered Hollywood royalty. She took on her prickly relationship with her mother in the book-to-movie “Postcards From the Edge.” She’s also been outspoken about her mental health issues and the solution she found: radical-sounding electroshock therapy.
News of Fisher’s condition sparked an outpouring of support and sympathy on social media.
Many of her “Star Wars” co-stars wished her well on Twitter, including Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca; Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker; Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO; Dave Prowse, who acted as Darth Vader; and Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian.
“I’m shocked and saddened to hear the news about my dear friend. Our thoughts are with Carrie, her family and friends,” co-star Harrison Ford said in a statement Saturday.
Twitter: @LAcrimes and @JosephSerna
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UPDATES:
Dec. 25, 1 p.m.: This article was updated with more news about Fisher’s health.
Dec. 25, 12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Debbie Reynolds.
Dec. 25, 6:45 a.m.: This article was updated with the latest on Fisher’s health and more reactions.
Dec. 24, 5 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Fisher’s siblings.
Dec. 24, 10:30 a.m.: This article was updated with new tweets from well-wishers.
Dec. 24, 7:30 a.m.: This article was updated with details that Fisher is in the intensive care unit at the hospital.
Dec. 23, 4 p.m.: This article was updated with more details on Fisher’s condition.
Dec. 23, 3 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Hamill and Mayhew.
Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the pilot’s conversation with ground control.
Dec. 23, 2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from LAX police and United Airlines officials.
This article was originally published on Dec. 23 at 1:35 p.m.
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