Kirstie Allsopp Undergoes Leg Surgery After Being Airlifted From a Muddy Devon Beach Path

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has undergone leg surgery after a dramatic rescue from a steep, muddy coastal path in North Devon, turning a long-standing birthday tradition into an emergency she says she will not forget 'in a hurry'.

The 55-year-old Location, Location, Location star, was injured near Welcombe Mouth beach and airlifted to hospital after multiple rescue teams were called to reach her on the difficult route.

Birthday Celebration Turns Into Emergency

In an Instagram post, Allsopp shared that the accident happened during a family birthday tradition at Meadowgate, one of her favourite places.

Allsopp said almost every year since her son Oscar was born, the family has celebrated with a picnic on the beach, a swim and a walk back to the house for cake.

But this year's return journey took an unexpected turn when she slipped on a muddy patch on the steep path.

After the fall, Allsopp said Oscar ran to get help while rescuers worked to locate her.

In the post, she said members of the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team, Hartland Coastguard Rescue Team and Cornwall Air Ambulance were involved, adding that what3words helped rescuers locate her.

'I feel very, very lucky that it was possible to reach me and get me to hospital so quickly,' she wrote.

Rescue Teams Respond To Serious Injury

The Bude Coastguard Rescue Team also confirmed its involvement, describing a 'successful rescue' of a 'high profile!' casualty with a serious leg injury near Welcombe Beach.

The team said it had supported colleagues from Hartland Coastguard Rescue Team and the air ambulance service during the operation.

Allsopp also said she was given a large amount of pain relief and joked that she had failed to collect the social media details of everyone who helped her.

She thanked the many people involved in her care, saying she remembered only some of their names after what she described as the effects of being 'high as a kite' on painkillers.

Surgery and Hospital Treatment

According to Allsopp, staff at Barnstaple hospital had been 'amazing, kind & caring' and confirmed that doctors had operated on her leg.

'It'll be a boot and crutches for a while,' she said, adding that she expected to return home soon and was fortunate to have a job she could continue while using crutches.

The television presenter has not publicly disclosed further details about the surgery or the full extent of her injury.

This is not Allsopp's first serious physical setback. In 2023, she halted filming for Location, Location, Location after falling down a flight of stairs in a pub, an incident she later described publicly as frightening.

Coastguard Rescue Marks Final 'Shout'

The rescue also marked the final Coastguard 'shout' for Bude Coastguard Rescue Officer Lotte. Her colleagues paid tribute to her 'selfless commitment to saving lives and assisting those in need on our coast'.

Allsopp later thanked the team and congratulated Lotte, writing: 'So grateful, and love that you were able to see the sun set on my Birthday in my favourite spot.'

She added: 'I hope I wasn't too unmanageable on all those painkillers, you had quite the task on your hands on that path.'

Allsopp also thanked the emergency responders and hospital staff involved in her care, asking anyone who uses her words or photos to consider donating to one of the organisations involved in her rescue.