Britain’s most successful gymnast Beth Tweddle is walking unaided after neck surgery following a fall during training for Channel 4 show The Jump.
The 30-year-old, who won bronze at the London Games in 2012, could only walk a few steps assisted by medics after the operation which involved having a piece of bone taken from her hip.
Beth said she has started to feel better and is walking by herself – but it is a case of “taking one day at a time”.
An update from Beth: https://t.co/WEAWaf3VQ2
— Beth Tweddle (@bethtweddlenews) February 13, 2016
In a statement, she said: “The medical staff here in Austria have been fantastic and I couldn’t have wished for better people to be around me at this time.
“I’ve started to feel a lot better in the past 24 hours and I’ve begun walking by myself. It’s still a case of taking one day at a time, but I’m setting myself goals and I’m determined to be up and about as soon as I can.
“The doctors are happy with my progress and next week we will have a better idea of when I can be discharged from hospital.
Beth won't be wearing heels like these any time soon (Ian West/PA)
“Thank you to everyone that has sent me get well messages. My mum and dad have been reading them to me and, one day, I’ll be able to reply to you all. It really has meant a lot to me, so thank you.”
Surgeons took a bone from her hip and used it with pins to fuse together two fractured vertebrae in her neck.
The number of injuries on the third series of The Jump – five celebrities have been forced to pull out – has prompted Channel 4 to review safety procedures on the show.
The Jump continues on Channel 4 on Sunday, February 14, 7.30pm
