Strictly legend rushed to hospital hours before show final as she shares photo hooked up to a drip
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds told fans that she has been rushed to hospital – and said she was gutted to be spending the lead up to Christmas in hospital.
The British former Paralympian swimmer, 29, shared a photo from her hospital bed on Saturday morning.
Ellie posted a picture of her hooked up to a drip while lying in bed.
She updated fans and wrote: “Never would of thought spent days in December and lead up to Christmas in hospital.
Ellie did not go into detail regarding the reason for her hospital visit but thanked the NHS staff for their support.
She added: “Huge thank you to all the nurses, doctors and staff at Walsall Manor NHS Hospital for looking after me.”
Ellie took part in Strictly last year.
Partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, Ellie shone under the spotlight and made it to week seven.
In October The Sun revealed that Ellie had quietly split from her childhood sweetheart Matt Dean.
The pair were together for two years having first met as toddlers.
He was front row to support Ellie when she took to the BBC dance floor last year.
But The Sun has learnt the couple, who lived together in Cheshire, separated as friends this summer.
A source said: “Ellie and Matt have sadly split but it was amicable on both sides and there remains a lot of love there.
“They preferred to keep their relationship out of the public eye and it was the same with the break up, but both are doing OK.”
Ellie has undergone a period of huge life change over the last 18 months.
After 13 years competing at an Olympic level, the multi gold-medal winner announced her retirement from swimming in September 2021.
But bubbly Ellie was able to pivot into TV and media work off the back of huge public support – which grew tenfold when she joined Strictly in September 2022.
Ellie was born with Achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that results in short limbs.