Cheryl was 'only hours from death's door'

The starlet has had to pull out of X Factor’s boot camp rounds and next month’s V Festival, while she battles with malaria

Cheryl Cole was reportedly ‘close to death’ according to friends, after being struck down with malaria.

The X Factor judge is thought to have contracted one of the most deadly strains of the disease, after holidaying in Tanzania with pal Derek Hough.

SEE ALL THE PICS FROM THIS YEAR'S X FACTOR AUDITIONS SO FAR

A spokesperson for the 27-year-old has confirmed that she has had to pull out of the X Factor boot camp stages, as well as cancel her appearance at next month’s V Festival.

According to sources, the deadly malaria has left her weak, jaundiced and unable to talk, with Cheryl even spending hours in intensive care.

‘It got so bad she was literally only hours from death’s door,’ a source told the News of the World.

'The fact is, we came close to losing someone very special.’

But it is thought that the singer is now making good progress, after being moved from the specialist tropical diseases hospital, to a private clinic in London on Friday.

However, it is likely that she will not be seen in public for the next two months while she recovers.

Get well soon Cheryl!

SEE ALL THE PICS FROM THIS YEAR'S X FACTOR AUDITIONS SO FAR

SEE CHERYL'S STYLE EVOLUTION HERE