Strictly star Ellie Simmonds has been rushed to hospital (Picture: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Simmonds has been rushed to hospital and revealed she’s spent days there in the run up to Christmas.
The Paralympic gold medallist took part in the BBC One competition last year with Nikita Kuzmin – who heads into the final tonight with Layton Williams.
On Saturday, hours ahead of this year’s Strictly finale, Ellie shared an image on Instagram showing a tube coming out of her arm and hooked to a drip.
She wrote: ‘Never would of thought spent days in December and lead up to Christmas in hospital.’
Ellie, 29, went on to express her gratitude to the NHS staff who had looked after her.
The retired swimmer became the sixth celebrity eliminated from Strictly last year, which saw Hamza Yassin and Jowita Pryzstal lift the glitterball trophy.
Ellie thanked the NHS for looking after her (Picture: elliesimmonds)
Shortly after her exit, she credited her dance partner Nikita for ‘changing people’s lives’ and ‘adapting’ their routines, hailing him ‘the best’.
‘What he’s done for my choreography, he realised everyone can dance and has adapted it to me,’ she told former It Takes Two host Rylan Clark.
‘But it shows that choreographers out there can do anything with dwarfism and any different disability.’
Turning to Nikita, she added: ‘You’ve changed people’s lives, he has.’
Ellie credited Nikita Kuzmin for ‘changing my life’ (Picture: PA)
When presenter Tess Daly asked her about her experience on the show, a teary Ellie said: ‘I’ve literally had the time of my life. It’s been the most incredible experience – life changing really.’
‘I want to thank Nikita ever so much. I’m going to miss him – he’s changed my life and confidence.
‘And all of you guys – the pros. Every single one of you who’ve been part of this Strictly. Behind closed doors, the costume designers, I’ve literally loved waking up every single day and dancing, I’m going to dance forever.
‘It’s incredible, this show is life changing. He’s [Nikita] changed my life. We’ve had the most amazing days.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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We’re sending our love to Ellie!