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Charlie Webster Flown From Rio To UK For Further Treatment

Charlie Webster Flown From Rio To UK For Further Treatment

A TV presenter who "nearly died" after contracting a rare strain of malaria in Brazil has arrived back in the UK for further treatment.

Charlie Webster, a former anchor for Sky Sports News, was flown home on a specialist plane with a team of medical professionals who cared for her during the 20-hour journey.

The 33-year-old is in a stable but serious condition, and will now continue her recovery in a private ward at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Webster said "the last few weeks have been hell".

She added: "I'm so grateful to the staff at Copa D'or hospital in Rio for the care I received, they saved my life.

"I have the most wonderful family and friends supporting me and the well wishes from the public has been incredible … I'm happy to be home."

Webster had just completed a 3,000-mile cycle ride from London to Rio de Janeiro when she was taken ill during the opening ceremony.

With her condition deteriorating fast, doctors placed her into a medically induced coma and also put her on dialysis as her kidneys were not responding to treatment.

Experts are now trying to determine where she caught the rare strain of malaria.

At first, doctors suspected Webster was severely dehydrated as a result of her gruelling six-week challenge.

On Twitter, the Ride to Rio team said it was "fantastic news" that Webster had landed safely in the UK - and they wished her "all the best" in her recovery.