Ashley Judd survived a potentially fatal bout of appendicitis because she was filming in a hospital when she fell ill. The actress was shooting new movie "Helen" in Vancouver, Canada when an acute attack of the illness led to a collapse on set at Ridge Meadows Hospital on November 25.

Judd was immediately admitted to the same medical center and underwent emergency surgery to remove her diseased appendix.

A source tells the National Enquirer, "Luckily, the cast and crew were filming at a real hospital, so when paramedics arrived, they simply put Ashley on a stretcher and wheeled her into an operating room nearby."

While Judd recovers, production on Helen has been halted.

-Ashley Judd Pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)