Hostage's mother taken to hospital after mercy plea
The unbearable heartache of witnessing her son’s torment at the hands of his brutal Iraqi captives proved too much for brave Lil Bigley tonight.
Just hours after making a desperate plea for mercy, the 86-year-old was taken to hospital after falling ill at her Liverpool home.
The stress of a week of anxious waiting and not knowing what fate will befall 62-year-old hostage, Kenneth, had clearly taken its toll.
Mrs Bigley was in Aintree University Hospital tonight where her condition was stable. It was not clear what she was being treated for.
Earlier, consultant Dr Mashood Siddiqi, who had been asked by the family to check on her, said she had been under a lot of stress but was coping.
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “The family thank the media for their support but want to be with her tonight and look after her.”
The pensioner has had to live with the knowledge her son faces a gruesome execution at the hands of the notorious Tawhid and Jihad group if their demands are not met.
She will no doubt be aware Mr Bigley’s two American co-workers suffered the most brutal of deaths this week after being beheaded.
But the courageous mother still faced the television cameras for the first time tonight to add her own voice to the desperate pleas to save her son’s life.
She begged for Mr Bigley to be sent home just an hour after British Prime Minister Tony Blair telephoned the family for the second time this week.
Supported by her sons Philip, 49, and Stan, 67, she said: “Would you please help my son? He is only a working man who wants to support his family.
“Please show mercy to Ken and send him home to me alive. His family need him. I need him.”
Stan Bigley said his mother only wanted to protect her son and told how even her experiences in Ireland and during her long life had not prepared her for this.
He added: “She lives for her family and wants to protect her son Ken in his hour of need.
“That is what gives her the strength to come here today and go through this ordeal.
“Please continue to respect her privacy in the future.”
Philip Bigley said: “As well as being desperately concerned for Ken’s safety, we have collectively been trying to protect our elderly mother from any additional trauma by not allowing her to be exposed to the media.
“However, she asked that we now let her do something to help. It is the bond that exists between a mother and child that is driving her to personally say a few words directly to Ken’s captors.”
But within two hours of making her brave appeal, an ambulance was called to Mrs Bigley’s home and she was admitted to hospital via accident and emergency.
Dr Siddiqi said beforehand: “She is under a lot of stress at the moment but is coping well.
“It’s a very stressful time but she has family members around her. It’s a very sombre mood at the moment. She is a very strong lady.”
At least one person from the house accompanied her to hospital but it was not immediately clear who.
