MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Veteran actor Eddie Garcia is in the hospital and under critical observation after collapsing on Saturday, June 8 while filming the upcoming teleserye Rosang Agimat.
GMA-7 earlier released an official statement attributed to the actor’s family, saying that he had “suffered from a severe heart attack” during the taping.
"Our family would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all those who have expressed concern and extended prayers. Please continue praying for Tito Eddie’s fast recovery," they added.
However, in a later statement, Dr. Enrique Lagman, the uncle of Garcia’s longtime partner Lillibeth Romero, said that test results showed there was no heart attack nor stroke. Lagman said he was speaking in behalf of Garcia's family.
“Walang heart attack, walang stroke (There was no heart attack, there was no stroke) because the CT scan of the brain is normal, the heart attack test was normal,” Lagman told Rappler.
Lagman is currently in the hospital with Garcia and the actor’s family. He said that the doctors have put Garcia under observation for 48 hours to see if his condition improves.
Lagman said the family initially refused to give a statement because they were not sure what caused the accident. He mentioned a video that has been circulating online, showing the moment the actor collapsed on set.
The video, taken by a certain Mhervin Maco, shows Garcia seemingly tripping over a cable and falling as he enters the frame. When he doesn’t immediately get up, people rush to his aid.
Actress Vivian Velez also shared photos supposedly taken following Garcia’s collapse. In the photos, the actor is visibly pale, and is being carried by a group of men, with one of them wiping his forehead.
Rosang Agimat, an upcoming series on GMA 7, was touted to be Garcia’s network comeback.
Even in his age, the actor has remained active in showbiz, and even won the Special Jury Prize at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2018, for his role as an elderly gay man in Rainbow’s Sunset. – Rappler.com