BRAVE Danielle Harold felt “wiped out” by her jungle illness but kept fighting in her bid to win I’m A Celebrity.
Millions of TV viewers were completely unaware of the former EastEnders actress’ medical drama as none of it was shown on screen.
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Danielle Harold was treated by an I’m A Celeb jungle doctor in a secret major health scare Credit: Rex
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The former EastEnders actress lost almost a stone as she battled a debilitating infectionCredit: Eroteme
It wasn’t until she became the fifth star to be kicked out on Thursday that she shared her secret health scare with family and friends.
Petite Danielle, who is 5ft 3in tall, told a friend: “I felt exhausted, so rough and tumble, but I was determined to hang in there.
“I didn’t come all that way for it to end like this.”
Insiders said that while camp friends Grace Dent and Jamie Lynn Spears left for health reasons, Danielle refused to do the same.
READ MORE ABOUT DANIELLE HAROLD
A source said: “Danielle fell ill at the start of the show and got a really nasty infection which left her feeling unwell.
“It was all off camera and she just kept going in. Danielle was visited several times by the camp doctor. They were very concerned, but she preferred to stick with it rather than throw in the towel.
“She was very sick, but you never knew that. She was always smiling and doing her best at camp. She didn’t want to leave the show to go to the hospital.
“There were times in that first week when she really struggled.
“She didn’t want to let anyone down at the camp or her family and friends. She tried to eat as much as possible because she knew it would help her. The weather was also bad in the first week which didn’t help. But Danielle is such a trooper and she was so brave to point it out. She just started.
“The doctors monitored her closely and she had to visit them several times to make sure the infection was under control.
“But she wasn’t well for a few days and lost almost a stone.”
During her 19 days in the jungle, Danielle, 31, parachuted into the camp and took part in several trials.
She also befriended Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson and This Morning presenter Josie Gibson.
The source added: “Danielle has more than proven her mettle. Everyone gathered around her. They were in awe that she continued.”
After leaving, Danijela immediately hinted at her health problems.
In an interview at the celebrity Marriott Hotel on the Gold Coast, Danielle said: “The jungle eats you alive. You have days off and days off. There is no food. Adrenaline hits me hard too.
“It’s so hard. But I just smiled, even in hard times.”
Danielle told The Sun in Sunday’s Fabulous magazine in September how she suffered from a long-term illness as a teenager.
She was often in and out of hospital at GCSE time.
Danielle has always dreamed of becoming an actress and was given a place at Jamie Oliver’s Dream School — the TV venture the chef launched in 2011.
That year she was offered the role of Lola Pearce in EastEnders.
She left this September when her character died on screen of brain cancer. Her tear-jerking performance won several awards.
Danielle is now working on her next job.
She said: “I didn’t get into acting to play one role, so I’m excited to explore other roles.”
The source added: “Danielle was very popular on I’m A Celebrity and it was amazing for the public to see her personality.
“Acting offers and contracts have started rolling in from day one and Danielle has a very exciting career ahead of her.”
Danielle wasn’t the only star to suffer in the jungle.
Fred Sirieix developed a foot infection after heavy rain hit the camp.
Nick Pickard and Marvin Humes suffered from skin diseases.
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Danielle became the fifth star evicted on ThursdayCredit: Rex
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