Holocaust denier David Irving who dismissed Auschwitz gas chambers as a ‘fairytale’ now requires ’round the clock care’ after falling ill in Florida.
The 85-year-old, who was jailed, discredited and bankrupted for his controversial comments, arrived in the American state last October and his health has declined ever since.
His family told followers he is now back in the UK and they are pleading for cash to help arrange private care due to ‘constraints with NHS services’.
As well as dismissing gas chambers, Irving also claimed Hitler was oblivious to the planned extermination of six million Jews and that the ‘true figure’ was ‘far fewer’.
His family published an appeal on his website, asking his readers for cash towards his medical care and support, but also for the ‘preservation and continuation of his work’.
They wrote: ‘David’s situation, however, has placed us at a crossroads where the path forward demands collective support.
Holocaust denier David Irving now requires ’round the clock care’ after falling ill in Florida , as his family beg for donations from his admirers
Irving has been jailed, discredited and bankrupted for dismissing the Auschwitz gas chambers as a ‘fairytale’
‘This is an appeal to safeguard the essence of a man whose life’s work has been to bring us closer to the nuanced truths of our past.
‘Regardless of size, every contribution is a step towards sustaining David’s impact on historical literature.’
They stated that Irving was in ‘good hands’ and that they would keep his fans informed of his health.
In 2015, the author organised ‘disgusting’ tours of concentration camps costing £2,000 for each participant.
The disgraced academic, who is a self-confessed fascist, led a tour group to sites in Poland such as Treblinka, Sobibor and Hitler’s ‘Wolf’s Lair’ headquarters.
Holocaust memorial groups have accused Irving of insulting the memory of those killed in the Second World War by spreading ‘pro-Nazi propaganda’ on the tours.
In promotional material for the tours , Irving promises customers the opportunity to ‘make up your own mind about the truth’ during ‘the unforgettable journey of a lifetime’.
His family posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: ‘[David] was hospitalised for nearly two months, enduring the kind of challenges we never anticipated he would face.
‘It is with sadness that we must accept that David is now unable to engage in his life’s work.
‘His unwavering dedication to unveiling Real History has not only defined his career but also enriched the minds of readers worldwide.
‘Your support and solidarity in this challenging time are invaluable. We will keep you informed of his health and well-being as he faces this stage of his life with dignity. He is in good hands.’
American-Jewish historian Deborah Lipstadt first branded Irving a Holocaust denier in her book, to which he then sued her for libel.
The case went to the High Court and after a trial in 2000, which attracted global attention, the judge ruled against Irving, damning him as anti-Semitic and racist.
He was ordered to pay £2million in costs and his home and assets were seized, but he was reportedly propped up by benefactors, including a Saudi prince who had an estate at Ascot, and a former Nazi U-boat commander.
This allowed Irving and his partner, Bente Hogh, to move with their daughter into a £6,000-a-month apartment in London.
There was also a film made about the case called Denial, in which Irving is portrayed by Timothy Spall and Rachel Weisz plays Deborah Lipstadt.
In 2006, he went to Austria, where denying the Holocaust is a criminal offence, to address a rally of Right-wing students.
He was duly convicted and jailed for 13 months for statements made in 1989, before being deported, to find his finances and relationship in ruins.