LOS ANGELES — Hollywood icons Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are reportedly recovering after both fainted at their home due to a suspected gas leak, prompting emergency services to rush to the scene late Tuesday evening.
According to early reports, the couple was found unconscious in a wing of their Beverly Hills estate after neighbors grew concerned when their security alarm was triggered and repeated calls went unanswered. Emergency responders arrived to find traces of natural gas inside the home, believed to be the result of a faulty valve connected to their kitchen appliance system.
“The gas levels were high enough to cause dizziness and unconsciousness over time, especially in a closed space,” said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department. “Fortunately, the alarm system activated ventilation fans, which likely prevented a more tragic outcome.”
Sources close to the family say it was Michael Douglas who first started to feel unwell earlier in the day. “He mentioned feeling lightheaded and thought it was dehydration,” an anonymous source told People. “Catherine insisted they both lie down and rest, but then neither of them responded to calls or messages for hours.”
It wasn’t until a concerned staff member visited the property that the unconscious couple was discovered and 911 was called. Both Douglas, 80, and Zeta-Jones, 55, were transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a precaution and were kept overnight for observation.
“The doctors say they’ll make a full recovery,” the source confirmed. “They’re lucky. If the situation had gone unnoticed another hour, this could have ended very differently.”
The couple, who have been married since 2000, are known for their luxurious and tech-enabled home, which reportedly includes a private cinema, indoor spa, and custom-designed chef’s kitchen. Ironically, it’s the same kitchen believed to have been the origin of the gas leak.
In a statement released through their publicist on Wednesday morning, Douglas and Zeta-Jones expressed gratitude to first responders:
“We are deeply thankful to the emergency personnel who responded so quickly and professionally. We are safe, we are well, and we are grateful this incident didn’t result in something far worse. We encourage everyone to check your detectors and appliances—gas leaks are silent, invisible dangers.”
Fans around the world flooded social media with concern and well-wishes, praising the couple’s resilience and urging others to install carbon monoxide and gas detectors in their own homes.
The couple is expected to return home later this week once full safety checks are completed and the faulty appliance is replaced. In true Zeta-Jones fashion, the actress even managed a bit of humor in a private message shared with friends: “Of all the ways I thought Michael and I might go out, fainting in our socks because of a broken gas valve was not it.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact source of the leak, though foul play is not suspected.
