Tom Dwan shares multiple tweets from a psychiatric hospital in London, amidst an emotional crisis
May 23, 2025
Professional poker player Tom Dwan's health came under concern this past Wednesday, as he posted a series of agitated and often cryptic tweets suggesting a mental health crisis.
Dwan, a high-stakes poker legend, revealed he was at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, located in west London. His posts revealed severe paranoia and fear for his life.
"I am terrified. They are trying to kill me or destroy a large part of my brain. All the doctors and nurses told me I don't need medication, but they are still trying to force it on me. Please, I beg anyone who can, to help me."
Several of his tweets mentioned politicians, including the US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Potential Airplane Incident
While the details of what happened to Dwan remain unclear, he hinted at an incident on an airplane in which he was restrained. He asserted he suffered injuries at the hands of the Metropolitan Police in London.
Dwan claimed that someone posing as a flight attendant had tampered with his phone, charging it and erasing his browsing history. He alleged this was part of a premeditated plan to create "a problem to fabricate false charges" against him.
"The Metropolitan Police of the United Kingdom probably broke a rib, and I would say there's a small possibility that they perforated a lung; still, they haven't done an X-ray. I also have between 20 and 30% fracture in my hand (light), and several other minor injuries. The people claiming to be 'medical staff' but who are actually not, act strangely, not normally but with brutality."
Dwan also made multiple references to a "US operational command" and claimed he was being attacked by a "really shitty" intelligence agency, without providing further details. He also insinuated that he believed the water he drank was drugged.
"Here, there are NHS [National Health Service] nurses and others. They can see me, I am in an emergency medical situation in which they are about to kill me," Dwan tweeted.
Dwan's assertions of conspiracies involving intelligence agencies, medical staff, and flight attendants, along with accusations of forced drugging and phone manipulation, are characteristic of persecutory delusions typically observed in acute psychosis or manic episodes with psychotic features.
Improving Condition
Will Shillibier, a British journalist from PokerNews.com, was able to visit Dwan at the Park Royal Hospital and spoke with him for 15 to 20 minutes.
"He spoke at length about what happened to him," Shillibier said. "He seemed well and didn't appear to have suffered any physical harm. I believe he's in the right place to continue recovering."
Fortunately, Dwan later tweeted on Wednesday that "I am finally starting to feel a bit better."
"I got a bit nervous, I'm sorry," he added.
Legal Actions
Following his release from the hospital and return to the US, Dwan threatened to file multiple lawsuits against the hospital and involved parties over his treatment during the psychiatric hold, citing forced medication and alleged mistreatment.
"Tom Dwan's tweets suggest a link between his mental health crisis and a series of events that occurred in the realm of health-and-wellness, as he mentions his stay at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health. Additionally, the use of medication in his treatment and his alleged injuries imply a connection with the field of science and medicine, given the medical and pharmaceutical aspects of mental health care."
"In the aftermath of his hospitalization, Tom Dwan, a professional poker player, has expressed concerns about his mental health and has hinted at potential legal actions, alleging forced medication and mistreatment, which could involve the field of law and justice, specifically in regards to health-and-wellness and mental health rights."
