Floyd still standing

PATONG: Keith Floyd, renowned British celebrity chef and owner of Floyd’s Brasserie at Burasari Resort, flew home this morning as planned in order to continue with his UK theater roadshow Floyd Uncorked – putting paid to rumors that he is suffering ill health.

Rumors about Floyd’s health began circulating after he collapsed on Saturday evening while taking time out from cooking at his brasserie to talk to guests at the resort’s bar.

Floyd passed out while seated and chatting with a guest from New Zealand but regained consciousness a few minutes later and was taken to Patong Hospital by Burasari staff, where he was given the all clear by doctors; returning to the hotel the same evening for much needed rest.

Burasari Resident Manager Conor O’Leary confirmed that Mr Floyd’s condition was not serious and that his stay was not cut short by the incident, as some media have speculated.

Mr Floyd had already extended his stay after originally planning to return to the UK late last week, Mr O’Leary said.

Mr Floyd arrived in Phuket earlier this month on a brief visit to his Patong restaurant, taking time out from a busy schedule of filming and stage appearances. Before his Thailand stopover, Floyd was filming and cooking for world cup rugby teams as part of his latest television series.

“He has been working very hard and was tired from his very busy schedule. We took him to hospital as a precaution but after a brief checkup, doctors gave him the all clear, saying he had fainted as a result of [exposure to] tropical heat and exhaustion,” Mr O’Leary said.

“Mr Floyd is in good health and he is flying back to the UK today as planned to appear on stage on Thursday night as part of his theater roadshow.

“Mr Floyd and his brasserie are very popular with our guests, which has kept him very busy and we expect him to be returning to Burasari in November,” he added.