‘I felt my back popping’ says Countryfile star as they recall moment they ‘thought they were dying’ in horror accident
A COUNTRYFILE star has opened up on the moment she thought she ‘was going to die’ after a horror accident.
Sammi Kinghorn has spoken honestly about the terrifying ordeal when she was just a teenager.
The presenter was playing on her family farm while her Neil dad was working with a forklift.
But as she was jumping around with her friend and her dad beeped at them, Sammi decided to climb inside the machine.
While her dad was unaware she was inside, he continued to operate the forklift, which he was using to shovel snow.
Sammi told OK!: “To this day, I have no idea why I did it.”
The now 28-year-old initially though her dad was aware she was inside, but after releasing he wasn’t, she “started screaming”.
“I felt my back popping and before I knew it my head was in my crotch. I was crushed right down into a tiny ball.”
The Countryfile star continued: “My heart was thumping in my chest. Everything felt really slow and all I could hear was my breath.
“I remember closing my eyes and thinking, ‘You’re going to die, and your Dad’s going to think it’s his fault’.”
Sammi felt her legs pulse and twitch – which became the last time she ever felt them.
Now a double Paralympic medalist, she was left disabled from the waist down following the horror injury.
The Scottish World Champion wheelchair racer is also a five-time world medalist.
Sammi told Farmers’ Guide how her dad will ‘always feel guilty’ for the accident.
She added: “I compete in stadiums with thousands and thousands of people and I do well, and most importantly I love it, I know that it makes him feel that little bit better.”
Countryfile presenting team
Agricultural programme Countryfile launched on the BBC in 1988. In its long history, the show's seen several presenters come and go. Let's take a look at the current line-up.
- John Craven: The longest-serving presenter, having debuted in 1989, John is also known for his work on Newsround from 1972–1989.
- Adam Henson: Adam, who comes from a farming family, joined the presenting team in 2001. His other media work includes BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and BBC Two’s Lambing Live.
- Matt Baker: Having joined the line-up in 2009, Matt also presented The One Show alongside Alex Jones from 2011 to 2020. Before that, he hosted Blue Peter from 1999 to 2006.
- Tom Heap: Tom joined Countryfile in 2009 and in April 2012, he took over the investigative reporter role from John Craven. He has also presented The Climate Show on Sky News.
- Helen Skelton: Another former Blue Peter presenter, she hosted the beloved children’s programme from 2008 to 2013. Helen joined the Countryfile team in 2014 and has competed in Strictly Come Dancing.
- Anita Rani: Anita was added to Countryfile in 2015 and has presented other programmes for the Beeb including The Refugee Camp: Our Desert Home, among others.
- Sean Fletcher: Newsreader and presenter Sean joined Countryfile in 2015. He is also known for Good Morning Britain, Songs of Praise and BBC Breakfast.