Beth Tweddle Has Neck Op After Fall On The Jump

Gymnast Beth Tweddle is recovering from an operation on her neck after injuring herself during rehearsals for the celebrity sports show The Jump.

The Olympic gymnast described the last 48 hours as "very scary" as she waited for surgery to fuse fractured vertebrae in her neck.

In a statement, her parents Ann and Jerry said: "The early medical indications were positive as Beth was able to move her hands and feet, despite being in a lot of discomfort.

"The medical staff have been fantastic and explained to us that Beth was waiting for an operation as there were more serious cases ahead of her.

"At 20:00 GMT last night Beth was taken down for surgery where they took a piece of bone from her hip and used it to fuse the two vertebrae that were fractured, along with pinning them together.

"It was a scary time for all of us and we're just very grateful that the operation was a success."

Speaking from her hospital bed in Austria, Tweddle added: "Thank you so much for your support and concern. The last 48 hours have been very scary but all the messages have really helped to keep me positive. I will keep you updated on my progress."

The 30-year-old is just the latest contestant to pull out of the snow sports show after a series of serious injuries.

Fellow Olympian Rebecca Adlington, 26, withdrew from the show on medical advice after dislocating her shoulder.

She told host Davina McCall the fall was "literally the worst thing that has ever happened to me, it was worse than childbirth".

Holby City actress Tina Hobley, 44, also headed for the exit after she dislocated her elbow and suffered two fractures to her arm.

Sunday night's episode saw contestant Linford Christie, 55, unable to take part in an event due to pulling his hamstring, but he has not ruled himself out of the show.

Meanwhile, former EastEnders star Sid Owen and Made In Chelsea's Mark Francis Vandelli were unable to perform the air jump live due to injury.