BBC Strictly Come Dancings Gorka Marquez explains serious rhabdomyolysis condition that put him in hospital

The professional dancer was treated for a serious health condition just after the show ended in 2021

Gorka Marquez is thankfully fighting fit for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, but opened up about receiving hospital treatment for a serious condition while on the show. The Italian dancer, who will be taking to the floor with his new celebrity partner ?? this Saturday for the first time, explained he was suffering from a condition called rhabdomyolysis back in December 2021.

Sharing a photo of himself in hospital, he took to Instagram to reveal why he had been in hospital overnight. He wrote: "THANK YOU to everyone for the lovely messages

"Just to clarify I didn't have COVID or nothing related to covid vaccinations. I had rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly."

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He continued: "Which leads to my CK enzymes levels to be very high and that could lead to my kidneys [to] stop working. So had to get it treated."

He ended with a reassuring message, telling fans: "But I am all good."

Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) is the breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle. Muscle breakdown causes the release of myoglobin - the protetin that stores oxygen in your muscles - into the bloodstream.

If you have too much myoglobin in your blood, it can cause kidney damage. It also releases huge amounts of potassium into the bloodstream, which can disrupt the electrical rhythm of the heart.

Rhabdo is a severe condition that can lead to permanent disability or even death, according to Healthline. Treatment is given through an intravenous (IV) drip.

Symptoms include muscle weakness, a low urine output, fatigue, soreness and bruising. The symptoms can show up after a muscle injury, but the site warns sometimes no symptoms are present.