Wayne Lineker has expressed gratitude to a friend for taking him to the hospital following a “disturbing” incident in Ibiza this week, which left him with stitches and a swollen lip after attempting to protect a girl from harassment.
The 62-year-old, younger brother of former England footballer Gary Lineker, shared an Instagram story thanking his friend after a video showed him in a scuffle outside a bar on the Spanish island early Wednesday morning.
Wayne was reportedly knocked out for several minutes after being punched in the jaw during the confrontation.
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He re-shared a photo of himself drinking raw juices and gave “very special thanks” to his friend, cafe owner Daniel Onions, for taking care of him, ensuring he got to the hospital, and making sure he got home safely. Onions re-shared the post, commenting, “What friends are for.”
Wayne, known for his appearances on Celebs Go Dating, later posted a short video on Instagram with two of his resort employees, who jokingly remarked that “sometimes, you’ve just got to take it on the chin.” Demonstrating his sense of humor, Wayne captioned the video, “Hahaha gotta see the funny side. Take it on the chin.”
Earlier this week, Wayne posted a photo of himself wearing sunglasses, showing a cut on his chin, and giving a thumbs up at his friend’s wellness cafe. He reassured his followers, stating, “I wanted to write this post to let everyone know that I’m doing ok… I have a few stitches and a swollen lip. It could have been much worse so I count myself very fortunate I wasn’t standing two yards further back, as my head would have impacted the wall.”
Wayne acknowledged the disturbing nature of the video, especially for his family, and clarified that the incident stemmed from him trying to protect a girl from harassment. He thanked everyone for their supportive messages, describing the outpouring as overwhelming.
His nephew, Gary Lineker’s son, commented on the post with, “LOL: Lowest of the low.” Wayne is known to be estranged from his brother Gary, and they are reportedly no longer in contact.
There is no information on any arrests related to the incident. Sky News has reached out to Wayne for further comments.
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