Gladiators' Jodie Ounsley distressed after girlfriend collapsed at night - without her knowing
Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley did not hear her girlfriend, Ellen Ramsbottom, have a "pretty bad fall" because she is profoundly deaf and had removed her cochlear implant before bed.
Gladiators' Jodie Ounsley has been left distressed after her girlfriend collapsed during the night without the star knowing.
Rugby player Ellen Ramsbottom knocked herself "unconscious" after "fainting" while going to the bathroom amid feeling "really unwell", but Jodie heard nothing at the time as she is profoundly deaf and removed her cochlear implant before bed.
The TV personality, known as "Fury" on the BBC game show, was relieved that Ellen, 26, was fine, but Jodie, 25, was left shaken by the thought the accident could have left her partner needing "emergency help".
In a video shared on Instagram on October 23, Jodie opened up about the horror ordeal, but noted at the start that it felt "a little bit vulnerable" for her to share.
But the former rugby union player continued as she hopes someone can "help in this situation".
Jodie said: "My partner's woken up in the middle of the night feeling really unwell. She's obviously got up, got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, but along the way, she's fainted, had a pretty bad fall, unconscious on the floor.
"And the scary thing is, we don't know how long she's been lying there for.
"I had absolutely no idea this was happening. I was just asleep in bed.
"Eventually, she was OK; she woke up and managed to come back to the bedroom to tell me what had happened."
She continued: "I was so grateful she was OK as she could be in that moment.
"All I could think in that moment is, 'What if she was calling out for me? What if she were calling my name and she needed that help?'
"I was just lying there, completely unaware of what was happening."
Tearing up, Jodie said she was "trying to keep it together" as the star thought about Ellen "needing my help, and I can’t be there to help".
She added that her girlfriend is a "bit bruised" and they were "both shook up" by what happened before noting her relief that Ellen is "alright".
Jodie continued: "But what if it was a situation where in that split moment, she needed emergency help, and she wouldn’t have got it.
"And that really hits deep for me."
The entertainer would have "never forgiven" herself if the incident went differently.
She concluded: "I know I couldn't have done anything differently. I know these things happen.
"I guess why I’m doing this is I would just love to ask anyone out there if there’s something that could potentially help us?
“Being honest, I have absolutely no idea what’s out there, or what’s available.
"I’d just love to find a solution just so it gives us both a bit more peace of mind.
"And I know if anything was like that to happen again, I can be there for her, and I can really help her when it's most needed."
Fans reacted in the post's comments section, as one penned: "Omfg. I hope she's ok. Xx (sic)."
A second supporter typed: "That's genuinely a horrible situation/feeling, and sorry it happened, it's why @hearingdogs such a vital support for situations like these.
"Glad your partner is ok (sic)."
And a third follower suggested: "In the same vein of thought, look into vibrating plate smoke alarm systems that sit under your pillow (sic)."
