Bachelor Nation's Blake Moynes Undergoes Surgery in South Africa for "Severe" Infection

Blake Moynes—who got engaged to Katie Thurston on The Bachelorette before their 2021 breakup—has been "treated with great medical care and just completed surgery yesterday," his rep said.

By Elyse Dupre Jan 31, 2023 6:26 PMTags
Watch: "Bachelorette": Blake Moynes Talks Dating Both Clare & Tayshia

Feel better, Blake Moynes!

The Bachelorette alum, 32, recently underwent surgery after developing an infection during an environmental conservation work trip in South Africa. 

"Blake has been working and training in South Africa with anti-poaching units where [he] developed a severe infection," his rep told E! News Jan. 31. "He's being recently treated with great medical care and just completed surgery yesterday. We are awaiting confirmation that things are fully on the right track in the coming days. He is being monitored closely and once he is able to come home safely, he will be."

Blake's mother, Emily Moynes, also reiterated that he's on the mend in a video shared to her Instagram Stories.

"I just received word that Blake is in great spirits today post-op," she said in the Jan. 31 post. "Full recovery is expected. He is getting excellent care now in a private hospital. I don't know when he's coming home. He's not supposed to be home until March. And knowing him, he will stick it out because he will not leave until his work is done."

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She also expressed her appreciation for followers' well-wishes. 

"I just wanted to tell you that I was literally completely overwhelmed yesterday with the amount of love, and support, and prayers and encouragement," Emily continued. "Like, I had a moment. I sat on my couch and I had a moment because I thought I have never felt more part of a community than I did yesterday. Your prayers meant so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you, so, so much."

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Emily first notified fans of Blake's health issue on Jan. 30, explaining that while she doesn't often hear from him when he's working in South Africa that he had reached out to her about his illness.

"Four days ago, he called and said he had a really bad infection that had been treated," she said in a since-expired Instagram Stories video, per People. "I just got a call today—like I am starting to freak out—he just got out of surgery."

Emily then asked for prayers that he gets better. "I want him to come home," she continued. "F--k Blake, just come home. I know you love what you're doing, but you're freaking me out. I am ready to get on the next flight to Africa. Let's say a prayer for Blake please."

Blake talked about his conservation work on Katie Thurston's season of The Bachelorette, which premiered in June 2021. Blake—who'd previously appeared on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams' season of The Bachelorette—and Katie got engaged on the show but split that October, with them noting on Instagram that they realized they were "not compatible as life partners."

In November, Katie—who first appeared on Matt James' season of The Bachelor—shared she was dating fellow contestant John Hersey. And while John acknowledged on Reddit that the timing of their romance "seems fast and messy," he shut down any cheating speculation. Katie and John broke up in 2022.

In December 2021, Katie shared why she didn't give Blake a heads-up about her relationship with John.

"When have you ever had to tell an ex that you're seeing someone new?" Katie said on Instagram. "And like, how would you tell them that? And would I still have received the same amount of hate even if I did give Blake a heads up? I don't know."

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