In a highly emotional scene, "Dallas" star Victoria Principal vowed to marry rock idol Andy Gibb - as Gibb lay in a hospital bed in excruciating pain, suffering from a mysterious malady that has doctors baffled.
National Enquirer, August 1, 1981
At His Bedside, ‘DALLAS’ Beauty Vows To Wed Andy GibbAndy - who for months had unsuccessfully begged lovely Victoria to marry him - swore his undying love and devotion to her, revealed an insider.
The real-life romantic drama unfolded when terrified Victoria, 31, rushed boyish 23-year-old Andy to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after he doubled over with stomach pains.
There he drifted in and out of consciousness as she watched, terrified, and the doctors tried to find out what was wrong with him.
"She kept an anguished, lonely vigil throughout the night, praying silently because she was so frightened that she was going to lose him," revealed an inside source.
"She thought he was going to die and refused to leave his side for a moment."
Victoria, who’s divorcing husband Christopher Skinner, 24, prayed for Gibb throughout the night.
"Andy wasn’t conscious all the time because the pain had drained his energy," said the inside source. "But when he woke up in the night, Victoria held him and told how much she loved him and that they should get married as soon as she was free to do so."
It was the second time that the slightly built recording star had been struck down by the mysterious pains, said another informed source.
"Several months ago he was rushed into the hospital with the problem that produces enough pain to double him over in agony. X-rays were taken but they revealed nothing."
The latest agonizing attack came on Tuesday, July 7, at Victoria’s Hollywood Hills hideaway, where Gibb has been staying. The singer was getting ready to leave for his starring role in the play 'The Pirates of Penzance" at a Los Angeles theater.
"Andy went white as a sheet," said a friend. "He doubled over in absolute agony and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead.
"But the pain was getting worse and tears rose in Andy’s eyes. He was in such dire distress that Victoria decided that swift action was necessary."
Victoria rushed Andy to the hospital in her car. "While she concentrated on her driving, Andy curled up on the backseat of the car holding his stomach." Said a friend.
"He was in so much pain that his knees were almost under his chin and his eyes were shut tight."
"Victoria kept on glancing back, telling him to hang on. ‘Hang on, baby, we’ll soon be there. Hang in there, Andy, you’re going to be all right,’ she told him."
"But she’s admitted now that she was far from confident in what she was saying and in actual fact was terrified and even said a silent prayer right there in the car - praying that he was going to make it."
At 7/53 PM Gibb was whisked into the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Then - his hand gripped tightly by Victoria - Gibb was wheeled to the VIP eighth floor of the hospital and placed in room 8020.
There, as doctors inserted an intravenous tube into Gibb’s arm and set about trying to discover the nature of his mysterious ailment, Victoria began her all-night vigil.
"Victoria says that it was the longest and most nerve-racking night of her life," said the friend. "All shecould do was sit there and pray and hold his hand."
Andy and Victoria first met last January 6 on the set of "The John Davidson Show."
Gibb, younger brother of the three Bee Gees, flipped for the sophisticated Hollywood actress.
"Andy’s been head over heels in love with Victoria from almost the moment they met. He’s been begging her for months to marry him,' confided the friend. 'He’s sworn hisundying love for her."
But Victoria’s frightening vigil at Gibb’s hospital bed gave her the chance to analyze their relationship - and the depth of her own feelings, the friend said.
"The threat of losing him made her resolve to spend therest of her life with him."
So when Gibb regained consciousness during the night, Victoria clasped him to her breast and promised her eternal love, the insider said.
"She told him they should get married. It was almost like a wedding ceremony, with both of them swearing their undying love and devotion and promising they’d love each other forever."
After four days of intensive tests, Gibb - feeling better - was released from the hospital, leaving doctors still puzzling about this ailment.
Said the friend, "Victoria’s told Andy all she’s interested in now is for him to regain his strength and look after his health so they can spend their lives together."
