Amanda Holden has recalled ‘dying for 40 seconds’ during childbirth, while declaring she owes her life to the NHS.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 49, made the emotional revelation as she gave the first ever radio play of her newly-released charity single, Over the Rainbow, which helps raise money for NHS Charities Together, on Friday morning.
The TV and radio personality told Heart FM Breakfast Show co-host Jamie Theakston, 49, about her near-death experience during labour with daughter Hollie, now eight, while praising the NHS for ‘getting her through’ stillbirth of son Theo in 2011.
Grateful: Amanda Holden, 49, insisted that she ‘owes the National Health Service her life’ while chatting to co-host Jamie Theakston, also 49, on Heart Breakfast, on Friday
Amanda and husband Chris Hughes have been married since 2008 and are parents to daughters Alexa, 14, and Hollie.
A tearful Amanda told listeners that the NHS saved her life when she haemorrhaged during Hollie’s birth and ‘actually did pass away for 40 seconds’ before going into a coma.
She explained how they were there for her sister when she sustained a brain injury during a car crash, and that they were incredibly supportive to her family when she had a little boy who was stillborn.
After playing Amanda’s charity single to the nation for the first time ever, Amanda’s Heart Breakfast co-host Jamie Theakston told her ‘I’m getting a bit emotional, I’m so proud of you. What an amazing thing to do!’
Thankful: The BGT judge described how she ‘died for 40 seconds’ while giving birth to Hollie, 8, in 2012 and praised the NHS for ‘getting her through’ stillbirth of son Theo in 2011
Giving back: On Friday morning, Amanda gave the first ever radio play of her newly released charity single Over the Rainbow which help raise money for NHS Charities Together
Amanda admitted: ‘Well I mean, it’s… I owe the NHS my life, without being too dramatic.’
Encouraging her to detail her experiences, Jamie added: ‘Do remind us, tell us your story as I know it’s something that means a lot to you.’
Amanda explained: ‘When I gave birth to Holly, my 8-year-old daughter who I know is listening, she was an emergency and I haemorrhaged basically.
‘And I actually did pass away for 40 seconds and then I went into a coma but the NHS were there holding my hand and my husband’s hand who – I feel sorry for him to be honest, he went through it watching it all!
Proud: Amanda’s Heart Breakfast co-host Jamie Theakston told her ‘I’m getting a bit emotional, I’m so proud of you. What an amazing thing to do!’
Loved-up: Amanda and husband Chris Hughes have been married since 2008
‘My sister had a car crash three years ago and experienced a brain injury, she’s fully recovered but they were there for that.
‘And then of course it’s been well documented that Chris and I had a child, a little boy called Theo who was born sleeping at an NHS hospital and again, they were incredible to us, we couldn’t have gotten through without them.’
Jamie added: ‘And I know that you’ve always said that you wanted to do something for you and to give something back to them.’
Doting parents: The couple are parents to daughters Alexa, 14, and Hollie, 8
Proud: Amanda has also been proudly wearing a a special rainbow T-shirt from M&S, with 100 percent of the profits also going to NHS Charities Together
Jamie and Amanda were also joined on air by Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, who told Heart listeners how Amanda’s single will help the NHS.
Amanda has also been proudly wearing a a special rainbow T-shirt from M&S, with 100 percent of the profits also going to NHS Charities Together.
Tune into Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, weekdays from 6:30am – 10am.