Corrie legend Liz Dawn suffers heart attack - The Sun

ACTRESS Liz Dawn, famed as Corrie’s Vera Duckworth, has suffered a heart attack.

The 73-year-old telly legend â€" already diagnosed with incurable lung disease â€" was rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pains at her apartment in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.

Duckworths ... Liz with TV husband Jack played by Bill Tarmey

Showbiz pals last night threw their support behind the Weatherfield legend after learning of her heart attack.

Ex-Corrie actress Sally Lindsay, a close pal of Liz, was among Street favourites who rallied round.

'Stick in there, girl â€" you’re as tough as nails' ... Liz's Corrie co-star Sally Lindsay

Rex Features

She told the ailing star: “Stick in there, girl â€" you’re as tough as nails!”

Sally, who played busty barmaid Shelley Unwin, added: “Liz is the funniest person I’ve worked with. She was brilliant in Corrie â€" we all love her and every cast member will be right behind her.

“She always came across as a battleaxe. But in truth, she is one of the warmest, kindest, most considerate people you could ever meet.”

Grief ... Liz Dawn at pal Bill Tarmey's funeral last November

Lee Boardman, who played Weatherfield drug dealer Jez Quigley, said: “I’m so sorry to hear about Liz. She’s a wonderful woman and we all send our love.”

Sue Nicholls, famed as crimper Audrey Roberts, said: “She is a real trouper â€" she will get through this. She gets as much love and support as we can possibly give.”

And Sue’s husband Mark Eden, who was Corrie brute Alan Bradley, said: “The work Liz does for charity is immense. She is a great woman and I’m sure she will pull through.”

'She is a real trouper â€" she will get through this' ... Street star Sue Nicholls who plays Audrey Roberts

Liz was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital on Monday night after being taken ill at her apartment in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.

It was two days before actor Bill Roache was charged with rape in another blow to the Corrie community.

Husband Donald told The Sun: “Liz is in hospital. She’s had a slight heart attack.” But despite the scare he said he was confident she would recover â€" adding: “She is all right.”

Last night friends said Liz had been allowed home to recuperate.

'We all send our love' ... Lee Boardman, who played Weatherfield drug dealer Jez Quigley

Rex Features

The actress had a 34-year run in Corrie after first appearing in the ITV1 soap in 1974 as wife of Rovers barman Jack â€" played by actor Bill Tarmey. In 2004 Liz, who smoked 24 cigarettes a day, was diagnosed with incurable emphysema.

Three years later she left the show due to failing health and her final scene saw Vera dying in her sleep.

'I'm sure she will pull through' ... Sue Nicholls' husband and Corrie star Mark Eden

Rex Features

Liz made a one-off return in 2010 as Vera’s “spirit” when Jack was written out. But last January she said doctors could do nothing more to ease her emphysema, which has left her lung capacity 30 per cent.

Liz said: “I’ve only made one plan for 2013 â€" to make sure I am alive this time next year. If not for the doctors, I wouldn’t be here today. But my health is very bad.”

She was left devastated last November when co-star Bill died and admitted: “I miss him terribly.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4914589/corrie-legend-vera-duckworth-actress-liz-dawn-has-heart-attack.html