Lisa Riley has bravely shared the harrowing details of a serious arm injury she sustained in a shocking fall – and the aftermath of needing urgent surgery.
The 49-year-old actress, beloved for her role as Mandy Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale, appeared on Loose Women last Friday, opening up about her pain and recovery journey.
The moment was charged with emotion as co-host Kaye Adams asked, “Lisa, what happened with your arm?”
With a rueful laugh, Lisa began: “Well, it all started with these chairs we’re sitting on now.” She recounted that just five weeks ago, just before a trip to New York, she was filming Emmerdale when disaster struck.
“I came home, told Al I was exhausted, and asked him to pop some soup in the microwave,” Lisa explained, her voice tinged with humor despite the pain. “Then, I sat down on the stool that I’ve been using for seven years. But it had been over-polished, I think, and I slipped. Boom! Next thing I knew, I was a human sledge.”
Her thumb took the brunt of the impact, and what followed was a whirlwind of doctor visits, hospital stays, and ultimately, a life-changing operation. “It was horrendous,” Lisa confessed. “My thumb’s UCL was badly damaged – they had to operate on it.”
The actress continued, lightening the mood with a wink: “And no, I wasn’t drunk – I was sober, believe it or not!” Her fall caused more than just a physical injury – it became a moment of vulnerability for the actress who, even after the pain, found herself dealing with the toll it took on her body and mind.
Lisa Riley gave an update on her ‘horrendous’ arm injury on Loose Women on Friday after fall that saw her needing surgery
Joking that she was sober at the time, the Emmerdale actress, 49, explained that her fall caused serious damage to her thumb, which led to her needing an operation to repair her UCL
But she’s keeping a positive outlook. “Now, after five weeks, I’m still in recovery, but things are looking up,” she said, before adding with a laugh, “I’m going back to see the specialist on May 6 – let’s hope the cast comes off then!”
Lisa shared a selfie on Instagram, post-surgery, alongside her surgeon, Dr. Thornton. She wrote a heartfelt tribute to the NHS, saying, “I have to massively thank my specialist surgeon, Mr. Daniel Thornton, and the amazing team at Leeds General Infirmary. The NHS is incredible. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
But Lisa’s journey hasn’t been just about recovery; she also spoke candidly about supporting her family through difficult times. She shared poignant memories of her mother, Cath, who tragically passed away from breast cancer in 2012.
As she remembered her mother’s battle, Lisa described the emotional weight of being her full-time carer during her final days, recalling, “At 58, she was taken from us too soon. It was tough on Dad; he was in denial, convinced she’d get better.”
In a raw moment of honesty, Lisa described her role as the emotional anchor for her family, saying, “I had to stay strong for everyone. If I didn’t, the whole tent would collapse. I had to hold it all together.”
Despite everything, Lisa’s resilience shines through. As she looks forward to her physical recovery, she continues to inspire her fans with her courage and dedication to her family.
We’re wishing Lisa a speedy recovery and sending all our love as she takes on this new chapter of healing.
Let’s send our prayers for Lisa on May 6, as she returns to her specialist!
