Television sports presenter, Charlie Webster is in a coma with a rare form of malaria in a Rio hospital after a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride.
Ms Webster, 33, who has worked for Sky and ITV, became unwell after watching the Olympic opening ceremony.
Her agent confirmed that she was in coma and om life support with a rare strain of the disease.
Ms Webster, from Sheffield, had appeared to be in good health when she arrived in Brazil on 4 August.
She was said to have dehydrated after the gruelling six-week Ride to Rio challenge and admitted to hospital the day after the Olympics opening ceremony after her condition deteriorated.
She wrote on Twitter on 9 August: "I'm getting there... awful few days with serious infection #Rio."
A statement on her Twitter feed two days later said her condition had "since been diagnosed as a severe complication caused by a bacterial infection".
It said: "Charlie has updated you all throughout her cycle and we know her silence was causing concern.
"Charlie is receiving great care and we will update when we can."
Ms Webster's mother, brother and manager are understood to have flown from the UK to be with her.
Advice to the medical team caring for her has been provided by the London School of Tropical Medicine.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing support to a British woman who is in hospital in Rio.
The Ride to Rio left the UK on 27 June, with Ms Webster and her colleagues cycling 90 miles a day with only one rest day each week before arriving at the Maracana stadium on 4 August.
It can't be Zika, is it?
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