Actor Jamie Dornan and friend Gordon Smart faced a health crisis in Portugal, initially thought to be a heart attack. Pine processionary caterpillars, known for toxicity, turned out to be the unexpected culprits. (Nasser Berzane/ABACAPRESS.COM / SplashNews.com)
Last year, actor Jamie Dornan, known for his role in "Belfast," faced a health scare during a boys' trip in Portugal, where he was accompanied by his friend Gordon Smart, a presenter on "Good Morning Britain," and others. The incident, recently recounted by Smart on BBC’s “The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected” podcast, unfolded with what seemed like symptoms of a heart attack, prompting a visit to the hospital.
Smart, reflecting on the events, shared that they initially attributed their discomfort to the previous night's revelry, which involved golf, wine, and espresso martinis. However, the true culprit behind their health troubles turned out to be pine processionary caterpillars, notorious for their toxicity.
The day after their merriment, both Smart and Dornan felt, in Smart's words, "Absolutely dreadful." Smart experienced tingling sensations in his left hand and arm, prompting concerns about a potential heart attack. At the hospital, his elevated resting heart rate raised further alarms. The doctor's inquiry into their alcohol consumption the night before led to a somewhat incredulous reaction, especially when faced with the quantity of wine and cocktails consumed.
Upon Smart's discharge from the hospital, he discovered Dornan, of "Fifty Shades of Grey" fame, undergoing medical attention in their hotel. Dornan recounted experiencing numbness in his limbs and even finding himself in an ambulance shortly after Smart's departure.
Adding a touch of irony to the situation, Smart revealed that as Dornan left the hospital, paramedics requested a selfie, an unexpected request during such a serious moment.
Dornan, known for his reservations about the limelight, had previously expressed reluctance towards his role in "Fifty Shades of Grey" in a 2021 interview with British GQ. Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the scrutiny that actors face in such high-profile roles.
A week after their health scare, the friends learned the unusual cause behind their near-heart attack episode. It appeared that caterpillars on golf courses in southern Portugal were responsible for harming not only dogs but also triggering heart issues in men in their 40s. The caterpillars' tiny hairs contain thaumetopoein, an irritating protein capable of causing skin, eye, and throat irritations, as well as rashes and allergic reactions.
Reflecting on the incident, Smart expressed gratitude for coming out of the ordeal alive, emphasizing the severity of the situation due to the toxic caterpillars.
