Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is reportedly seriously ill in hospital after a major health scare.

The Herald Sun reports that Andrews suffered a neurological episode about six weeks ago that left him debilitated.

The newspaper reports the 53-year-old’s condition is improving thanks to an intensive and ongoing rehab program, although he still has issues with speech and movement.

Andrews led Victoria from 2014 to 2023 but has maintained a much lower public profile since quitting politics.

His last public appearance was back in September, when he controversially attended a major military parade in Beijing. He was seen shaking hands with Chinese leader Xi Jingping and snapped in a photograph with world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

He defended his visit, saying it followed a formal invitation.

“I’ve said for years that a constructive relationship with China – our largest trading partner – is in Australia’s national interest and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depend on it. That hasn’t changed,” he said.

“Just so there’s no confusion – I have condemned Putin and his illegal war in Ukraine from day one. That’s why he banned me from Russia last year.”

Andrews, a Labor faithful, was absent from the recent funeral of party adviser Tim Picton, who died in mid-January after an alleged assault in Perth just after Christmas.

News Ltd reports that Andrews was admitted to Monash Clayton hospital, in Melbourne’s south-east, in the days before Christmas. His condition is reportedly “improving” after “intensive” rehabilitation, although he remains in hospital.

It is not his first major health crisis.

In 2021, Andrews spent days in intensive care at Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital after fracturing a vertebra and breaking several ribs in a fall down wet stairs at a holiday rental on the Mornington Peninsula. He also suffered respiratory issues, and had weeks in hospital to recover.

He later said he and his family thought he was going to die from the fall.

Andrews was off work for three months, before returning in mid-2021 to lead Victorian Labor to success at the state election the following year. He said he still had rib pain and remained on anti-inflammatory tablets.

He resigned as Victorian premier in September 2023. At the time, he denied his back injury had contributed to his decision.

Andrews is married to Catherine and has three adult children, Noah, Joseph and Grace.