KEY POINTS:
Comedian Mike King is in Melbourne Hospital after suffering a stroke as the result of a brain clot.
The 44-year-old collapsed in Melbourne on Sunday. He was in Australia on holiday attending a million-dollar poker game.
King's health problems were compounded by the death of his father-in-law, Toko Nathan, 75, on Monday.
RadioLive host and friend Willie Jackson said last night that news of King's stroke had come as a great shock.
"He's getting through it. It's a bit of a shock for him but he'll be okay. We are just relieved he will be okay."
King's wife, Rosemary Nathan, flew to Melbourne on Sunday night. Jackson said he had been in close contact with Ms Nathan, who was due to fly back to New Zealand late last night.
"Rose is confident he'll get through," Jackson said. King was expected to be in hospital for at least a week.
Mr Nathan, a twin, died on his birthday, Jackson said and his tangi will be held this week.
King's manager, David Steele, told TV3 that the comedian was in good condition verbally.
"He's more upset at the cricket that's going on at the moment.
"That's causing him to swear a lot, but he's in good order."
Mr Steele told National Radio this morning: "They seem to be pretty confident that this was a one in a million situation and not something that is going to cause him grief going forward.
"No doubt he is regaling the night staff with humour at the moment, but he's in very good spirits."
He said he spoke to King from New Zealand a few hours after he collapsed and said he had appeared to have recovered quickly, but it was initially a concerning situation.
"He was paralysed, he lost his speech, and of course to Mike that's the worst thing that could possibly happen ... we were pretty scared."
King was in Australia attending a poker tournament when he collapsed.
Mr Steele said he was confident the comedian would return to his Game of Two Halves television slot when the programme got underway again next month.
- NZPA
