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Olympic bronze medallist Beth Tweddle has had surgery on her neck after a fall during Channel 4's The Jump, prompting a review into safety procedures on the reality TV show.

The retired gymnast, 30, had fractured vertebrae fused together after she was injured while training for programme.

The Briton has quit the show and described the last 48 hours as "scary".

A Channel 4 statement said it had asked the show's producers to re-assess every event and training plan.

Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, 26, and actress Tina Hobley have also withdrawn from the show - which follows celebrities as they try to master various winter sports, including ski jumping, skeleton and speed skating - because of injury.

A statement from Tweddle's parents said: "The early medical indications were positive as Beth was able to move her hands and feet, despite being in a lot of discomfort.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: "All winter sports carry some element of risk but in light of the number of injuries this year, Channel 4 has asked the producers to review safety procedures again to further reduce the prospect of accident."

The events on a new course were "no more difficult" than in the previous two series and all competitors had "undertaken a rigorous training programme to prepare them for the show", the spokesperson added.

Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, the first British Olympic ski jumper and an occasional guest on the show, told BBC Radio 5 live that ski-jumping can be "a bit too dangerous" to newcomers unless they have spent a month skiing "all day, every day".

Tweddle's operation on Sunday night was described as a "success" by her parents.

From her hospital bed in Austria, Tweddle added: "The last 48 hours have been very scary but all the messages have really helped to keep me positive. I will keep you updated on my progress."

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/35523346

8 February 2016 at 11:52am
Gymnast Tweddle undergoes neck surgery

Beth Tweddle has undergone surgery to fuse together two fractured vertebrae in her neck, her family has said.

Olympic gymnast Tweddle suffered the injury during the making of Channel 4 programme The Jump.

Surgeons took a bone fragment from Tweddle's hip and used it, along with pins, to fuse together two fractured vertebrae in her neck.
Beth Tweddle was taking part in a TV show. Credit: Channel 4

The former gymnast thanked well-wishers, she said: "Thank you so much for your support and concern. The last 48 hours have been very scary but all the messages have really helped to keep me positive. I will keep you updated on my progress."

Tweddle's parents, Ann and Jerry, said initial medical indications were positive as she can move her hands and feet.
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The early medical indications were positive as Beth was able to move her hands and feet, despite being in a lot of discomfort.

The medical staff have been fantastic and explained to us that Beth was waiting for an operation as there were more serious cases ahead of her.

At 20:00 GMT last night Beth was taken down for surgery where they took a piece of bone from her hip and used it to fuse the two vertebrae that were fractured, along with pinning them together.

It was a scary time for all of us and we're just very grateful that the operation was a success.
– Ann and Jerry Tweddle
Last updated Mon 8 Feb 2016

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-...-neck-surgery/