Devastated Joe Swash ‘almost broke dance partner’s back’ in horror fall after hearing about Caroline Flack’s death
GRIEF-stricken Joe Swash "almost broke his Dancing on Ice partner's back" in a horror fall after hearing about Caroline Flack's death.
The heartbroken 38-year-old made a risky error as he struggled to concentrate just hours after learning Caroline had taken her own life.
Frightened professional Alex Murphy was lucky not to be seriously injured after Joe landed on top of her when an ice trick went badly wrong.
Talking to The Sun Online ahead of the Dancing on Ice final, Joe said: "When we had found out about Caroline we had to go to work the next day.
"It was a really messed up day and my mind wasn't on it.
"I dropped Alex really badly on her face and I nearly broke her back.
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"That day was a total blur."
Alex added: "It was really bad. It was the worst fall of my career, I'll never forget it.
"We were very emotional, we cried a lot that day."
Joe bravely went on to perform in the live show a day after Caroline's death.
He admitted: "I couldn't work out if I was doing the right thing by going through with the performance.
"I thought maybe I should have stepped down, but I'm glad I went ahead. I think I had to."
Joe grew close to Caroline when they were both presenters on I'm A Celeb's spin-off show between 2009 and 2010.
He fought back tears as he paid tribute to her on the ITV show that night.
This Sunday, Joe will compete in the Dancing on Ice finale against Perri Kiely and Libby Clegg.
- Dancing on Ice's finale airs Sunday at 6pm on ITV
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