Gladiators Star Legend’s Son Hospitalised During Swiss Ski Holiday
Matt Morsia, widely known by his stage name Legend, the 40-year-old fitness influencer and star of the revamped Gladiators series, has revealed a distressing incident during his family’s recent ski trip to Switzerland. His youngest son, four-year-old Mauro, was rushed to hospital after sustaining a broken leg on the slopes.
Legend, who shares sons Luca and Mauro with his wife Sarah, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the news. He explained that Mauro had to be taken to a local hospital where his leg was placed in a cast. Despite the unfortunate accident, the family managed to continue enjoying their holiday, with Legend posting photos of himself and Mauro relaxing in the resort’s jacuzzi.
“Absolutely sick week of skiing in Switzerland ft. Mauro breaking his leg but taking it like an absolute champ,” Legend captioned the post, highlighting his son’s resilience.
Fellow Gladiators contestants were quick to offer their well wishes. Giant commented, “Ah mate sending love,” while Nitro added, “What a champ! Recover well.” Comet chimed in with, “Mauro is the real Ledge, get well soon!” and Steel penned, “Big hugs. What a strong guy.”
This isn’t the first health scare the family has faced with young Mauro in 2024. Earlier in the year, the youngest son was hospitalised following a terrifying incident where he suffered a seizure in the bath.
A Frightening Seizure in the Bath
Sarah Morsia recounted the harrowing experience, describing how she discovered Mauro “jerking uncontrollably” with his face submerged in the water. In a state of panic, she pulled their son from the bath and immediately called for Matt’s assistance before dialling for an ambulance.
Medical professionals later informed the couple that Mauro had experienced febrile seizures, a type of seizure that can occur in young children when they have a high fever. In Mauro’s case, the fever was triggered by the onset of chickenpox.
A visibly shaken Sarah shared details of the ordeal on social media. “Last week Mauro suffered from something called febrile convulsions,” she wrote. “He was coming down with chicken pox and the fever caused seizures/fitting (it is quite common in children around the age of 2 during the onset of an illness).”
She continued, explaining the swift response from emergency services. “We called an ambulance which came quickly and got us to hospital and he is fine now (just waiting for the last of the spots to go).”
Sarah vividly recalled the moment the seizure began. “Anyway the first seizure happened when he was in the bath and within moments he was face down under the water and jerking uncontrollably.” She expressed her profound relief, stating, “Luckily I was sitting next to the bath and was able to pick him straight up and call Matt to help but it makes me feel sick to think of what might’ve happened.”
She shared her experience with a cautionary note to other parents: “I wouldn’t usually share stuff like this but it’s easy to quickly put the socks in the wash or grab some pyjamas while the kids are in the bath but basically don’t… defo not worth the risk!” She concluded on a more positive note, adding, “P.s. As you can see, he’s much better and enjoying his holiday.”
Understanding Febrile Seizures
A febrile seizure, also known as a febrile convulsion or fit, can occur in children when their body temperature rises significantly. While they can be frightening for parents, they are generally not serious and do not typically cause long-term harm. However, it is always important to seek medical attention when a child experiences a seizure.
Following the health scare, Sarah shared a photograph of Mauro resting in a hospital bed as he recovered. She also posted several images from their subsequent sunny family holiday, showing a happy and recovered Mauro back on his feet and enjoying himself.
Legend’s Journey: From Athlete to Gladiators Star
Before his rise as a prominent fitness influencer and YouTuber, Legend, whose real name is Matt Morsia, had a distinguished career in athletics. He is a former Championship bronze medal winner in long and triple jump, and also a silver medal winner in powerlifting. Morsia often spoke of his love for the “showmanship” involved in competitive sports.
Upon retiring from international competitions, he transitioned his charisma and dedication to a new arena, building a massive following as a fitness influencer and professional YouTuber. His content has garnered over 355 million views, cementing his status as a digital fitness guru.
In 2020, Morsia released his first book, ‘The 24/7 Body,’ further expanding his reach. His powerful presence and athletic prowess have now brought him to the Gladiators arena, where he is set to bring his signature intensity.
Legend has spoken with characteristic confidence about his role in the show, stating, “I’ve been training like a beast for the show but realistically I didn’t need to. I could’ve spent the last two months eating doughnuts and playing Dungeons & Dragons and I’d still be better than everyone else.” He added with a playful swagger, “I’m called Legend for a reason. I can only apologise for the irreparable damage I’m about to do to the contenders. Actually, that’s a lie, I’m not sorry at all. I’m actively looking forward to it.” His competitive spirit and larger-than-life persona are sure to make him a memorable contender for the new generation of Gladiators.
