Vanessa Bauer pulls out of Dancing on Ice after horror fall leaves her concussed

Danny Thompson
·Contributor
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Perri Kiely and Vanessa Bauer on the ice during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Perri Kiely and Vanessa Bauer on the ice during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Vanessa Bauer has pulled out of tonight’s episode of Dancing on Ice after a horror fall while rehearsing left her suffering with concussion.

The professional skater is usually paired with former Diversity dancer Perri Kiely, but the pair will not take part in this week’s episode so Bauer can recuperate.

Speaking with The Sun, Bauer explained how she and Kiely were practicing some “difficult tricks” when she took a tumble and smashed “head first into the barrier”.

Read more: Dancing On Ice star Vanessa Bauer shares video of terrifying fall

The 23-year-old said: “I'm gutted to be missing the group number on tonight but on the advice of the amazing Dancing On Ice medical team, I’ve been told to rest up for a few days.

“I feel fine in myself, but am following the advice of the medics.

“While I haven't broken my face, I have a concussion which should all be fine with a few days rest and i'll be fighting fit for next week.”

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Bauer posted the moment she crashed on social media, commenting: “THAT just happened - literally thought I broke my face.

“It started off so well lol,.. good thing I know how to stop, not.”

She will return to perform with Perri on next week’s show.

German-born Bauer has been a hugely successful pro since joining the popular ITV show in 2018.

Her first year saw her win the series while partnered with Jake Quickenden, beating Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent and Matej Silecky.

Read more: Dancing On Ice 2020 contestants

She then finished runner up last year, losing out to James Jordan and Alexandra Schauman while partnered with Love Island’s Wes Nelson.

The other six couples, Libby Clegg and Mark Hanretty, Caprice and Hamish Gaman, Lucrezia Millarini and Brendyn Hatfield, Maura Higgins and Alexander Demetriou, Radzi Chinyanganya and Jessica Hatfield, and Kevin Kilbane and Brianne Delcourt will perform to see which one will be joining talkshow host Trisha Goddard in the first skate off of the series.

Dancing on Ice, is on today (Sundays 12 January) on ITV from 6pm.