THE DAY MEL GIBSON LOST A PART OF HIMSELF

From: Daily News
Tuesday, March 12th 1996

Screen star Mel Gibson suffered an acute attack of appendicitis aboard the red-eye from Los Angeles to New York over the weekend and underwent emergency surgery at New York Hospital.

The Oscar-nominated star and director of "Braveheart" was rushed to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center's emergency room early Sunday after being stricken in midair, according to sources on the set of Gibson's latest movie, "Ransom."

He had checked into the Beekman Tower Suite Hotel and called a doctor, sources said but the pain became so unbearable that an assistant and a bodyguard rushed him to the hospital.

"He has had surgery, and everything is great," said a "Ransom" spokesman.

"They reached it before it burst."

According to sources at the hospital, Gibson had laparoscopic appendectomy done by making three holes through his abdomen and the operation was done with the aid of a camera.

The procedure took two hours, starting at 2 a.m.

Gibson was out of the hospital by Sunday afternoon.

But "Ransom" shooting has been thrown into a scheduling nightmare for the next two weeks because Gibson was set to appear in virtually every scene, the film's spokesman said.

Pat Scott, head of the city's film office, said she is trying to help the filming continue.

In the movie, directed by Ron Howard, Gibson stars opposite Rene Russo as a wealthy airline owner whose son (played by Nick Nolte's son Brawley) is kidnaped.

Gibson had been scheduled yesterday to film a scene in front of the Sony building.

Full recovery is expected in time for the Oscars ceremony, in less than two weeks. Gibson is the favorite to win Best Director.