'I was told I was dying when I was still conscious': TV host Charlie Webster shares first picture of herself in distressing malaria coma where she was just 24 hours from death as she openly discusses mental health ordeal

  • Charlie Webster has said she is 'still surviving' as she shared a photograph of herself on life support two years after she was in a medically induced coma
  • The former Sky Sports Presenter contracted malaria during the 2016 Olympics
  • She says she's spent the last two years improving her mental and physical health 

Sports presenter Charlie Webster has said she is 'still surviving' as she shared a photograph of herself on life support two years after she was in a medically induced coma.

The TV star and Team GB ambassador, 35, contracted a rare form of malaria while in Rio for the 2016 Olympics after taking part in a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride to the Brazilian city.

She became unwell during the opening ceremony of the Games.

Sports presenter Charlie Webster has said she is 'still surviving' as she shared a photograph of herself on life support two years after she was in a medically induced coma

Sports presenter Charlie Webster has said she is 'still surviving' as she shared a photograph of herself on life support two years after she was in a medically induced coma

Charlie Webster had completely a 3,000 mile charity cycle from London before contracting malaria

Charlie Webster had completely a 3,000 mile charity cycle from London before contracting malaria

She shared a photograph of herself lying in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors with tubes going in and out of her mouth, and wrote: '2 years ago this was me... I was in a coma on life support.

'I had less than 24 hours to live, it was unlikely I'd survive the night. They told my mum I was likely brain damaged.

'This time last year I was still struggling with my physical health & very much so my mental health.

'I could hear when I was in the coma, it was incredibly distressing, I was also told I was dying when I was still conscious. It was like torture trapped inside.'

She added: 'Today feels weird, hard to describe, it floods back memories of the pain and also the heartbreak of my mum and brothers but I have a big smile on my face that I survived and I'm still surviving.

'We have been through crap as we all have - we can sit here though and say 'I survived that' I made a decision to make sure I learn from everything that has happened to me and be a better person for it.

Ms Webster posted photos online during her time in hospital in 2016

Ms Webster posted photos online during her time in hospital in 2016

Ms Webster later appeared on 5live and posted this selfie outside

Ms Webster later appeared on 5live and posted this selfie outside

The TV star and Team GB ambassador, 35, contracted a rare form of malaria while in Rio for the 2016 Olympics after taking part in a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride to the Brazilian city (pictured at the St John Ambulance's Everyday Heroes Awards)
She became unwell during the opening ceremony of the Games (pictured at the 1000 Kisses Deep premiere)

The TV star and Team GB ambassador, 35, contracted a rare form of malaria while in Rio for the 2016 Olympics after taking part in a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride to the Brazilian city (pictured left at the St John Ambulances Awards and right at the 1000 Kisses Premiere)

'It may not seem it at the time but we are incredibly resilient and are blessed with an amazing spirit of fight and survival.

'All this crap that happens to us just makes us stronger, gives us a deeper understanding and empathy and more able to help others pull through bad times.

'Basically keep on going! You can do it! I know it's easy to say but through deep pain we honestly learn so much about ourselves and how remarkable we as humans are.'

Ms Webster previously said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to experiencing the horrors of her life-threatening illness.

Now an ambassador for Malaria No More UK, she said her research and campaigning have helped her come to terms with what happened to her. 

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