Scuderia Ferrari Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has shared an update on social media about his English bulldog Roscoe, who has been seriously ill. Hamilton revealed that Roscoe has slipped into a coma.
Newsweek Sports reported Hamilton’s Instagram story update yesterday, as he urged fans to keep Roscoe in their prayers. The 12-year-old four-legged companion has been with the seven-time world champion for company on several race weekends.
Roscoe was adopted by Hamilton in 2013, his debut season with the Mercedes AMG F1 team. He has since built an incredible fan following for himself on Instagram with 1.3 million followers, becoming one of F1’s most loved celebrities.
Hamilton’s latest update on Roscoe has had many fans praying for him. The Briton revealed that Roscoe was affected by pneumonia. As he was being treated, his heart stopped, but the medical staff was quick to get it beating again. Sadly, he then slipped into a coma, and there is no guarantee that he will wake up again. Hamilton wrote on Instagram:
“Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated. Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe. He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped.
“They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma. We don’t know whether he will wake from this. Tomorrow we’ll try to wake him up. I’m by his side and want to thank you all for your prayers and support.”
Earlier in May this year, ahead of the F1 race at Imola, Roscoe suffered from pneumonia. When Hamilton was asked about his condition back then, he said:
“He’s doing quite well now. He’s 12-and-a-half years old, so he’s an old boy. He had pneumonia, but he’s fine now fortunately.
“But definitely, this is a time where every time I get a text message from the lady that’s looking after him my heart stops for a second because I’m like: ‘What’s next?’
“I really want to try and bring him to Silverstone, and particularly to Monza, this year. Get him a red cape.
“It’s unusual for a bulldog to be as old as he is. I was with him before Miami and he still wants to play. Still got that kind of youthful spirit. He does like to sleep a lot.”