BBC Scotland presenter Jackie Bird on mend after life-saving surgery

By ANDREW WHITAKER
Published on 12/11/2012 03:37

TELEVISION news presenter Jackie Bird underwent life saving emergency treatment after being rushed to hospital with a rare bowel condition, it was confirmed yesterday.

The BBC Scotland news anchorwoman collapsed at her home suffering from crippling stomach pains, before being taken to an operating theatre at Hairmyres Hospital, in East Kilbride.

Doctors are reported to have said that the Reporting Scotland presenter was just three hours from death after she suffered a twisted bowel syndrome – where the patient’s blood supply is cut off to part of the ­intestine.

Surgeons were forced to remove sections of Ms Bird’s small and large intestines to save her life.

Following the operation, Ms Bird was put in intensive care, with her family now suggesting that the star is likely to be convalescing for the next few weeks. The presenter was understood to be recovering yesterday and sat up in bed in a ward at the hospital, where she is expected to remain for the next few 
days.

She is now thought to be out of danger and is said to have been seen joking and chatting with staff.

Ms Bird’s husband, Robin Weir, who confirmed his wife had been taken ill, said: “It was a real shock at the time. We are just glad that she’s going to be OK.”

It is not yet known how long Ms Bird will be off work. She was admitted to hospital in the early hours of Thursday.

She had been due to present Children in Need from Aberdeen on Friday night but will now almost certainly have to pull out of the event she has fronted in Scotland for the past 14 years.

A family friend said that Ms Bird collapsed suddenly and is now exhausted and sore from the operation.

The friend said: “She was in a lot of pain over a period of hours and finally called NHS 24. They sent a doctor who administered a painkiller.

“However, around 5am she was in such agony, she had to call an ambulance which took her straight to A&E.

“Jackie is very resilient, but this was a serious operation. It will take time for her to get back to full health.”

A statement from BBC Scotland said: “We are delighted to hear Jackie is making a good recovery and our thoughts are with her and her family.

“We wish her a speedy ­recovery.”

Ms Bird is a qualified aerobics teacher and swim coach, a triathlete competitor and keen half-marathon ­runner, dinghy sailor and water-skier. The 50 year old has also reported from the war in Afghanistan for the BBC during her career as a broadcaster