Emotional Lorraine Kelly thanks NHS heroes who saved her life after a horse-riding accident in 2012
Six years on, Lorraine, who lost three pints of blood and suffered horrific injuries, has returned to the hospital
MILLIONS tune in daily to see her cheery smile but, were it not for the heroes of the NHS, it might not be Lorraine Kelly looking back at them.
The telly favourite and Sun columnist, revealed she was in tears after meeting the who saved her life following a horse-riding accident in 2012.
And more than six years on, Lorraine, who lost three pints of blood and suffered horrific injuries in the fall, has returned to the hospital where she was treated to thank staff.
On her emotional reunion with the doctors and nurses, which airs on her ITV show today, she said: “I was near to tears.
“It’s the first time I’ve been back. I was a little nervous about going because I knew it would stir up some really dark memories. I was getting flashbacks.
“But what was wonderful was being able to go back and say thank you. They are absolutely incredible.”
Lorraine was learning to ride as part of a charity fundraising event when a jump went horribly wrong and she fell off.
She suffered a deep wound to her right thigh after the horse reared up and trampled on her. She doesn’t remember much of what happened next but added: “A couple of millimetres one side or another then the artery would have gone. I would have died.”
Lorraine was rushed to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, where she was given a blood transfusion had emergency surgery.
She said: “They were in there for hours. I needed hundreds of stitches inside and out.
“During my visit, I was able to show my surgeon my scar. He did a spectacular job.
“I had no idea how life-threatening my injury was.”
She spent a week in hospital and another seven weeks recuperating at home.
All this week Lorraine, who is hosting The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Health Awards again later this year, will be celebrating the amazing work of the NHS, which turns 70 this year, on her show.
And she’s come up with a great tale to explain the lasting impression of her accident.
She added: “The scar doesn’t bother me necessarily. It could have been a lot worse.
“It looks like a shark bite, actually. When I’m an old woman I might say to my grandchildren: ‘Granny got bit by a shark.’ Can you imagine their eyes like saucers?”
Lorraine — who is mum to Rosie and married to Steve — turns 60 next year, and is planning a big bash to celebrate.
She smiled: “I’ll have a massive party — maybe more than one. Embarrassing my daughter is my function in life.”
It must be a mum thing — mine is exactly the same...
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