Dancer Derek Hough is said to be feeling responsible for Cheryl Cole's illness after the sexy singer contracted malaria on a romantic trip to Tanzania.
Closer picked up on reports that he has been taking the news hard, staying at the hospital and giving up work to be by the X Factor judge's side.
His stepfather recently told the Sun newspaper that Hough is feeling guilty and has been on the phone to his mother in tears.
It is thought the Girls Aloud star has falciparum malaria - a serious strain of the parasite which can cause blood to enter the lungs.
A source told the Daily Mail that they overheard Derek saying that Cheryl has fluid on her lungs, which was later confirmed by a friend of the singer, who added that Cole is still in intensive care and may be in hospital for quite some time.
It has been a tough year or so for Cheryl Cole, which has also seen her divorce her Chelsea and England footballer husband Ashley.
Posted by Alice Buller