Lorraine Kelly has praised the "absolutely incredible" NHS staff who saved her life after a horse-riding accident in 2012.
The 58-year-old television presenter lost three pints of blood and sustained horrific injuries when she was learning to ride a horse for a charity event six years ago, and was thrown from the saddle when a jump went wrong.
Lorraine’s life was saved by the doctors and nurses of the NHS, and after taking a trip back to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, she has heaped the praise on the heroes who mended her wounds.
Speaking about the emotional reunion – which was filmed for her eponymously titled ITV show and airs on Monday (21.05.18) – 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."
During her horrific fall, Lorraine suffered a deep wound to her right thigh when the horse reared up and trampled on her.
The television host was given a blood transfusion had emergency surgery, amounting to "hundreds of stitches" both inside and out.
She added: "A couple of millimetres one side or another then the artery would have gone. I would have died.
"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."
Lorraine isn’t bothered by her scar, and is thinking of coming up with an elaborate tale to tell her future grandchildren about how she sustained her injuries.
Speaking to The Sun’s Bizarre TV column, she said: "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 Kelly praises NHS staff six years after horse-riding fall
