Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden's illness was reportedly so serious on Saturday night that fire crews were called to provide assistance.
The professional dancer will not appear on this week's episode of Strictly after she collapsed backstage during the live show. Lauren Oakley has stepped in to partner singer J B Gill in Amy's place.
Amy returned to the BBC talent show this year after a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to bow out of the previous series and focus on her health.
But in a dramatic turn of events, the star was rushed to hospital on Saturday and specialist equipment was required to keep her completely flat. Amy's condition was reportedly so serious that fire crews were called in addition to paramedics.
The dancer’s spokesperson told BBC News: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution. She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.”
They added: “We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”
An ambulance was called to Elstree Studios, in Borehamwood, to escort the 34-year-old Welsh dancer to hospital. An East of England ambulance Service spokesperson explained: “We were called just after 21.00 BST on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood. An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet hospital for further care.”
The harrowing ordeal is not the first time that Amy has faced life-threatening health emergencies, as she revealed how she was nearly killed by sepsis while undergoing treatment for cancer last year.
The dancer admitted she was “very unlucky” to have fallen ill with the infection. Dowden told Hello! magazine that two days after her chemotherapy treatment in August, she went for a walk with her parents, Gillian and Richard.
She said: “The Strictly producers were checking in on me, and I was sending videos of me on my walk. I couldn’t believe how good I was feeling.”
But when they returned home Amy's health deteriorated "in an instant", forcing her concerned parents to call an ambulance to escort her to intensive care.
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