Strictly host Claudia Winkleman endured a Halloween nightmare back in 2014, which still haunts her years later, even after attending therapy sessions.
In 2014, Claudia’s daughter Matilda was in a horrific accident that saw her fancy dress costume go up in flames causing burns and injury.
For Claudia, who presents the Strictly Come Dancing Halloween special tonight (October 28), it’s an image she can never forget.
Claudia Winkleman’s Halloween nightmare explained
Claudia’s daughter Matilda was just eight when her fancy dress outfit went up in flames after she brushed against a candle. Speaking on BBC’s Watchdog in 2015, Claudia said of the ordeal: “I was talking to somebody and then I just heard her scream ‘Mummy’. I turned around and that was that. She was just on fire. Everyone was screaming.
“It feels like she was on fire for hours but the surgeon said that wasn’t the case and it was probably just seconds. But she went up, that’s the only way I can describe it. It was not like fire I had seen before.”
She added: “It was like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back. We couldn’t put her out. It was the tights, they came back to life. It’s life-changing but not life-defining. But definitely life-changing for me. I can’t remember life before it.”
Help from fellow parent
The fire caught so quickly, that even though Claudia and a fellow parent rushed to help before it caused Matilda severe injury.
Jamie Poulton was also left with injuries including second degree burns after trying to extinguish the blaze with his bare hands.
But she went up, that’s the only way I can describe it.
He commented: “It was like a potential horror film in front of me. This material just keeps reigniting and re-burning. And it is sticky, so it melts on the skin. It was horrific.”
After the accident, Matilda underwent several operations to treat her serious burns at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Matilda is now 17 years old and Claudia has since paid tribute to the “kind and clever” nurses who looked after her little girl.
Claudia Winkleman on suffering flashbacks from the accident
As a result of the horrific accident, Claudia revealed she suffered from PTSD and flashbacks.
The 51-year-old presenter sought the help of a therapist to help her handle the trauma from the incident.
Speaking to clinical psychologist Tanya Byron on new podcast How Did We Get Here?, Claudia previously said: “You helped me with flashbacks. I had flashbacks of when my daughter had an accident and they come at you like a bull.”
She continued: “Like a tsunami, it’s so enormous you think you’re going to drown. So you have to shove it to one side.”
Read more: Nigel Harman dealt huge blow ahead of tonight’s Strictly performance
Strictly continues tonight (October 28) from 6.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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