Dr Michael Mosley knew 'fragility of life' after couple's devastation

Chloe Govan & Tom Kershaw
·3-min read
Dr. Michael Mosley and wife had a premature baby
-Credit: (Image: (Image: GETTY))


The late Dr Michael Mosley was visibly moved in a video clip where he is seen caring for premature babies and was struck by "the fragility of life". In a BBC tribute show to the late doctor, The Doctor Who Changed Britain, Michael revisits his most poignant moments as a TV medic, revealing that his eldest son, Alex, was born prematurely, reports the Express.

While observing a 23-week-old newborn named Harrison, in his programme Countdown To Life, he confessed that the sight of the tiny, defenceless baby brought back personal memories. "You just feel so much emotion looking at a baby that is this small and this young and this vulnerable," he expressed sorrowfully.

"He really shouldn't be here. He should be inside his mum." He then narrated: "Often born without fingernails and with an eyelid sealed shut, these premature babies are fighting for their lives."

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Michael voiced his concern that "vital changes" which should have occurred inside the womb had not yet happened for Harrison, and shared his fears for the baby's future as he reflected on his own experience of welcoming a premature baby with his wife Dr Clare Bailey. "We were worried about [my son Alex], but he was early, but not as early as this boy," he pondered.

"I'm not sure what he can see or how much sense he can make of the world, because the neurons in his brain are not fully formed and senses are not fully developed." Michael, a father of four, shared the harrowing experience of seeing his eldest son battle for health after being born prematurely. But it was the first time he'd seen such a small boy, who ought to have had months more growing time in utero, he reflected.

The BBC programme's voiceover highlighted Michael's profound appreciation for life, yet his constant awareness of its delicate nature: "As much as Michael relished life, he never forgot about its fragility." This sentiment was echoed by Professor Alice Roberts on Twitter while reflecting on Michael's passing: "The fragility of life is so shocking," she wrote.

Roberts, a TV producer and academic, reminisced about her long-standing professional relationship with Michael Mosley: "I've known Michael Mosley for many years - as a tv producer specialising in science and medicine. He was the executive producer of my 2009 series Human Journey."

She recalled their collaborative work and a recent encounter: "When he started presenting as well as producing, we made several science programmes together. And we met up at Hay Festival just 2 weeks ago. I can't believe he's gone."

Throughout his career, Michael was known for his dedication to medical science, often putting himself through extreme experiments. One such instance involved him consuming his own blood during a meal.

His fearless approach to science was further demonstrated when he ingested tapeworms, stating he was only "mildly apprehensive" about the experiment. He then documented the parasites' lifecycle within his body, effectively turning himself into a research subject in what he called a "living laboratory".

Dr Michael Mosley's death earlier this month at the age of 67 came as a shock to many. He succumbed to heat exhaustion while visiting the Greek island of Symi. Tributes poured in from those who admired and cherished The One Show presenter.

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