Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has recounted a severe sickle cell crisis he experienced while travelling to Tanzania, revealing that he became so weak during the journey that he had to be taken off the plane in a wheelchair.

The singer shared the experience during an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, where he described how severe stomach pain and cramping began while he was on a flight with a stopover in Ethiopia.

Key Takeaways

• Adekunle Gold said he experienced a severe sickle cell crisis while travelling to Tanzania.
• He said the pain began during a flight with a stopover in Ethiopia.
• He initially believed the stomach pain and cramps were caused by food he had eaten at the airport.
• He said the pain became so severe that he could not walk after landing.
• Adekunle Gold was taken to a hospital in a wheelchair, where he said a doctor told him he was experiencing a crisis.
• He said the doctor advised him to drink plenty of water while travelling by plane and told him his oxygen level was low because he had not consumed enough water that day.
• The singer also reflected on the challenge of frequently travelling by air while living with sickle cell disease.

Adekunle Gold’s Sickle Cell Crisis Began During Flight

According to Adekunle Gold, the incident happened while he was travelling to Tanzania and was scheduled to stop over in Ethiopia.

He said he began experiencing severe stomach pain and cramping while he was on the plane.

At first, the singer believed the discomfort might have been caused by food he had eaten at the airport before boarding the flight.

He said he blamed himself for eating the meal, expecting the discomfort to pass.

Instead, the pain continued and became increasingly severe.

“I just noticed that I started feeling pain in my stomach. I was cramping. I thought it was maybe some meal that I had at the airport. I was like, ‘I shouldn’t have eaten that.’”

Adekunle Gold said the situation became increasingly serious as the aircraft approached Ethiopia.

“I Could Not Even Walk”

The singer recalled that the crisis had become so severe by the time the plane approached Ethiopia that he required medical attention after landing.

He said he was unable to walk and had to be placed in a wheelchair.

“Thankfully, we were closer to landing in Ethiopia. I could not even walk. For the first time in my life, they had to put me in a wheelchair, and they took me to the hospital.”

Adekunle Gold said the doctor who attended to him told him that he was experiencing a sickle cell crisis.

“And the doctor told me that I had a crisis.”

He explained that the episode was different from an earlier crisis he had previously discussed from when he was 20.

What Adekunle Gold Said Happened At The Hospital

Adekunle Gold said stomach pain had been the main form of sickle cell crisis he had experienced before that incident.

He recalled being surprised by the diagnosis and said it was the first time he had heard of that particular type of crisis in his own experience.

“The only crisis I have known in my life is in my stomach. That was the first time I ever heard about that.”

The singer also recalled the advice he said he received from the doctor following the episode.

According to Adekunle Gold, the doctor told him to make sure he drank plenty of water when travelling by plane.

He said the doctor also told him that his oxygen level was low because he had not consumed enough water that day.

“The doctor now told me that when I am on the plane, I should make sure I drink a lot of water. And that my oxygen level was low because I did not drink a lot of water that day.”

Adekunle Gold said the severity of the incident made the experience particularly alarming.

“They almost landed the plane because of me because it was really bad.”

Adekunle Gold Reflects On Living With Sickle Cell

Adekunle Gold has publicly spoken about living with sickle cell disease, and the interview gave him an opportunity to recount another serious experience associated with the condition.

He also reflected on how frequently he travels by air as part of his career.

“I feel like I live on the plane, I’m on the plane 24/7…”

The singer went on to discuss the importance of oxygen levels in relation to his experience of living with sickle cell disease.

“If you know anyone living with sickle cell, you will know it is about oxygen, oxygen level and when you are up there, it is crazy.”

His account focused on how quickly the situation changed from what he initially thought was stomach discomfort to a crisis that left him unable to walk and requiring hospital treatment.

A Personal Account Of A Serious Health Experience

Adekunle Gold’s account provides a firsthand description of a sickle cell crisis that occurred while he was travelling internationally.

The experience, as he described it, began with stomach pain and cramping before becoming severe enough to require medical attention after the plane landed in Ethiopia.

His recollection also included the advice he said he received from the doctor who treated him and his concerns about travelling frequently by air while living with sickle cell disease.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adekunle Gold’s Sickle Cell Crisis

What happened to Adekunle Gold during his flight?

Adekunle Gold said he developed severe stomach pain and cramping while travelling to Tanzania on a flight with a stopover in Ethiopia. He said the pain became so severe that he could not walk after landing and had to be taken to a hospital in a wheelchair.

Where did Adekunle Gold experience the crisis?

He said the crisis began while he was on the plane travelling to Tanzania, with Ethiopia scheduled as his stopover.

Why did Adekunle Gold initially think he was experiencing stomach pain?

The singer said he initially thought the pain and cramps might have been caused by food he had eaten at the airport before boarding the flight.

Did Adekunle Gold go to the hospital?

Yes. He said he was taken to a hospital after landing in Ethiopia after becoming unable to walk.

What did the doctor tell Adekunle Gold?

According to Adekunle Gold’s account, the doctor told him that he was experiencing a sickle cell crisis. He also said the doctor advised him to drink plenty of water while travelling by plane and told him his oxygen level was low because he had not consumed enough water that day.

Has Adekunle Gold spoken publicly about sickle cell disease before?

Yes. The supplied report states that the singer has previously spoken publicly about living with sickle cell disease.

What was unusual about this particular crisis for Adekunle Gold?

He said the crisis was different from what he had experienced previously and that, for the first time in his life, he had to be placed in a wheelchair and taken to hospital.

Where did Adekunle Gold recount the experience?

He recounted the experience during an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast.

Adekunle Gold’s account offers a detailed personal recollection of a serious sickle cell crisis that occurred during international travel, including the progression from stomach pain to hospital treatment and his recollection of what the attending doctor told him.