Eamonn Holmes was seen using a wheelchair as he arrived at Wembley to cheer on his beloved Manchester United as they took on Newcastle in the League Cup final. on Sunday.
The 63-year-old presenter, who has been battling chronic back pain, was supported by devoted son Declan, 34, and appeared in high spirits despite his recent health crisis.
Eamonn cut a casual figure in a navy sports jacket, which he layered over dark trousers, completing the look with comfy trainers.
The former This Morning host, who has also had back surgery to help relieve symptoms, wore her silver locks loosely and carried crutches in her right hand.
Beaming Eamonn gave a wave to fans as he entered the venue and even stopped to chat with a star-studded security guard.
As well as Declan, Amon shares Rebecca, 31, and Niall, 29, with his ex-wife Gabrielle.
In 1996, after ten years of marriage, he separated from Gabrielle as pressure mounted on her to move to London to present GMTV from her home in Belfast.
Eamonn married co-host and wife Ruth in 2010, they share son Jack, 20.
This comes after Eamon reunited for lunch with friend and former S Club and star Joe O’Meara after he recommended a surgeon to operate on his injured back.
The 43-year-old singer herself struggled with chronic pain that saw her spend eight days in hospital and unable to work, following unsuccessful surgery to remove a disc from her back.
Jo took to Instagram earlier this month to share a photo with Eamon after they met to discuss their recent problems, joking that it was ‘lovely to moan about their backs together’.
The GB New host previously credited Joe with recommending a surgeon who was able to help him with his back problems after he was in excruciating pain following a fall at his home.
He underwent surgery in September to ease the pain but continues to struggle with a ‘left leg problem’, for which he is undergoing physiotherapy.
who shared photo of himself with his arm around Eamon, who appeared to be sitting outside.
She wrote: ‘So cute catching up with this one today @eamonnholmes It was lovely to see you and talk (and moan) about our backs but always a giggle! #gettogether #friends #recovery #lunch.’
In an interview with The Daily Mail last month, Eamon revealed that Joe contacted him on social media in the name of a German surgeon after battling chronic back pain.
A scan revealed three bulging discs. ‘I still thought it would go away, but it didn’t. The knock-on effect was that I lost a lot of use in my right leg,’ he says.
‘I was given epidural injections, which helped to some extent, but did not cure the problem. I started using a stick, so life was already getting shorter.’
Things got worse when, last May, he flew to Belfast to host an event in honor of his close friend, broadcasting veteran Gloria Hunniford, and ended up in A&E at the city’s Royal Victoria Hospital, his Bladder and bowel issues due to spine problems.
Eamonn was immediately admitted for emergency surgery, only to have the operation postponed at the last minute.
‘The surgeon stood over me, all masked and ready to operate, but then decided it was too complicated.
‘The spine and all the nerves coming out of it affect many other things, which he felt needed to be addressed first. I was crushed,’ he recalls. ‘I had been in severe pain for over a year, and I had high hopes that this might be the answer.’
Instead, he spent nine days under observation in hospital before returning to England – for a full work schedule, culminating in live coverage of the Queen’s death in September.
‘By now even my left leg was not working properly,’ he says. ‘I had to rely heavily on Isabel, who was carrying my weight, rounding me. It was terrible.’
She shared her concerns on social media and Joe contacted her.
‘He got in touch and said he had the same disc problems that I did and had just had surgery with a German surgeon,’ he said. ‘I asked if she could give her details, as I was getting desperate by now.’
After contacting the surgeon, Eamon was examined at the end of September. ‘It went well – the doctor fixed things, and the pain generally went away, which is fantastic,’ he said.