‘I thought he was dead’: New details of Wiggles’ mid-show medical emergency

A new Wiggles documentary has revealed more details regarding the shock incident that saw one of their own almost die on stage.

One of the original Wiggles, Greg Page, suffered a life-threatening heart attack during a reunion show back in 2020.

At the time, he was given CPR that ended up saving his life.

Now, in a new Wiggles documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles out October 24 on Prime Video, Page and his co-stars have given more insight into what it was like being onstage when the tragic incident occurred.

The Wiggles share some heartbreaking details in their new documentary about the tragic incident in 2020 that almost led to the loss of one of its original members. Picture by Prime Video Australia.

Emma Watkins, who joined the group in 2012 and walked down the aisle last year, said she quickly knew something was wrong after glancing at Page who appeared to be beginning to struggle.

“Being there onstage I could see Greg and he was signalling me to stand in. Almost like he knows something is about to happen,” she said.

Fellow original Wiggle Anthony Field then saw the fateful moment Page fell to the floor tragically unfold in front of his eyes.

The Wiggles react to Greg's medical emergency.

Field said: “He [Page] kind of fell down … he didn’t look well. I just thought he’d overdone it. I was aware Greg used to pass out quick often.”

Page left the group in 2006 due to poor health, later returning briefly in 2012. At the time of his departure, he revealed he was suffering from orthostatic intolerance, which caused problems with the function of his heart when standing. The condition had left him unable to perform and walking with the aid of cane.

This meant that, at the time, Page's co-stars weren’t certain of just how serious the incident had become.

Field continued: “My first thought was he was having some kind of fit. By the time [first aid] had got to Greg, he’d stopped breathing. I remember the colour had run from his face… I thought he was dead.

Emma says in the doc that she was one of the first to notice that something was horribly wrong with her co-star. Picture by Alan Barber.

Fellow original Wiggle Murray Cook said the whole incident was “distressing” for everyone.

“It was pretty distressing. I could see Anthony start to have a panic attack. There was a nurse in the audience and she came up on stage.”

Page was taken to hospital shortly after the nurse stepped in to help and an ambulance had been called.

At this point, however, Page’s condition was touch and go.

Chaos backstage as the band struggled to help Greg.

Recalling his eyes opening for the first time since he collapsed during the show, he said: “And then I woke up in hospital, and Vanessa [a former Wiggles dancer] said to me: ‘You’re having a massive heart attack”. I remember thinking: ‘What do you mean having?’. Because even though they’d resuscitated me, I still had a blockage and my heart was under attack.

Page didn’t immediately realise just how lucky he was to be alive, that was until a nurse who had helped with his treatment spoke with him.

“After the procedure the nurse told me I was a very lucky man. Because only ten per cent of people survive what I’d just been through.”

Page has since made a full recovery, and opens up about his health in the new documentary. Picture by NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Shortly after the incident took place in 2020, paramedics expressed that it was doubtful Page would have survived the trip to hospital had it not been for the efforts of those who performed CPR at the show while awaiting help.

Speaking in the new documentary, an emotional Cook said it was one of the toughest moments the group had ever been through as a collective.

“It was incredibly harrowing for him and his family,” he said. “But also incredibly harrowing for us.”

Page, who is since thankfully in better health, went on to share how thankful he was for all the support at the time from across Australia, as well as the rest of the world.

“I think the only word I could use is impact,” he said when asked for a word to summarise the tragic event.

“To see however many people left me messages about that one event. This is quite emotional to think about. The whole cycle of the wiggles and the relationship with our audience.”

Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles is available to stream on Prime Video from October 24.