Dancing On Ice pro skater Alex Murphy has revealed she suffered a stroke at the tender age or 24.
The star told The Mirror she was branded a “miracle” by doctors who were unsure she would recover fully from the terrifying ordeal.
Alex told the newspaper she collapsed while working on the cruise’s ice rink and was left paralysed on her right side and unable to speak for around nine hours.
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“The scariest part of it all was that it was like being in a bubble,” she said.
“I knew everything that was going on around me but I couldn’t communicate with anyone. I could see how scared they all were around me but I didn’t know who I was.”
Alex, 29, said she underwent treatment in a neurological ward, before having keyhole surgery to fix a hole in her heart, going on to surprise doctors by making a full recovery.
“Doctors kept saying I was a miracle case and they had no idea how I was still alive, let alone not paralysed,” she said.
“That was so shocking to hear.”
Tests revealed the stroke was the result of a congenital heart defect, that had gone undetected in Alex’s parents.
Alex went on to win the 2013 Dutch season of Dancing On Ice, skating with DJ Tony Wycycinski.
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She is skating with Love Island star Kem Cetinay on the current season of the skating show, and the pair have been impressing the judges – managing to come in joint first place twice.
There had been fears earlier today that Kem and Alex’s latest performance was in jeopardy after she reportedly hurt her ankle during training.
The Daily Star reported there had been talks of getting a reserve skater lined up just in case, or even fast-tracking Kem and Alex to the next round.
A source told Entertainment Daily! that Alex did sustain an injury to her ankle in rehearsals and her performance tonight was still to be confirmed, and she is being monitored by the show’s onsite physio.
Kem and Alex, however, seem determined to carry on, as Kem has announced on Twitter that he can’t wait for tonight’s show
He wrote: “SHOW WEEK! Thank you to everyone who has kept me and my lovely partner in for this long! We can’t wait to perform this week’s routine and hopefully you all like it.”
Alex retweeted the message, as well as a montage of all the skaters rehearsing for tonight’s show.
We’re glad to hear she’s okay.
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