TV Presenter Charlie Webster 'Knows She Nearly Died' In Rio

TV sports presenter Charlie Webster has been able to speak to her family after being taken out of a coma during treatment for a rare strain of malaria in Rio.

The 33-year-old former Sky Sports News presenter remains in intensive care, having fallen seriously ill after completing a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride from London.

While she is being kept on dialysis as her kidneys are not responding to treatment, doctors say they are "very happy" with her neurological results after performing cognitive tests.

Her mother said: "Charlotte knows she nearly died. She mouthed to me earlier, 'look at all the machines keeping me alive'.

"Charlotte is really strong but as the doctors keep reminding me, everyone heals differently. I am just so thankful that she's able to communicate with us again."

Her statement read: "It's been the worst imaginable time - we have been beside ourselves with worry but the fact Charlotte is now conscious is amazing.

"Knowing Charlotte, the thing she'll be most annoyed about is that she's missed the Olympics."

She was admitted to hospital on 6 August after watching the Olympic opening ceremony, having arrived in Rio a few days earlier.

Doctors initially thought she was dehydrated following the gruelling six-week Ride to Rio challenge, but then diagnosed her as suffering from a severe complication caused by a bacterial infection.

But on Thursday her agent said she was in a coma and on life support. Later it was said she was being kept conscious so that the medical team could perform tests.

There was a fresh tweet on her Twitter account just after 9am on Thursday, saying: "Thank you very much for your messages of support, it means a lot. #TeamCharlie."

The 33-year-old had tweeted the day after being admitted to hospital: "Six weeks on the road ends in this. Very rough day, severe dehydration & infection - 2 drips & antibiotics #Rio."

Just two days later she wrote: "I'm getting there... awful few days with serious infection #Rio."

Webster made no more posts and a statement on her Facebook and Twitter profiles on 11 August revealed how her condition had worsened.

The Ride to Rio campaign wished Webster a speedy recovery, describing her as a "tough lady".

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing support to a British woman who is in hospital in Rio."