Dan Walker has left hospital after being struck by a car while riding a bicycle near his family home – telling waiting family members: ‘Luckily I’m not dead’.
The former BBC presenter, 45, hobbled into his house in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, after being collected from his local hospital’s A&E department by his wife Sarah shortly after lunchtime.
It comes after Walker took selfies of his bloodied face from the inside of an ambulance this morning as he shared details of the frightening incident on the outskirts of the city.
As worried relatives asked how he was feeling in the driveway of the family home in, Mrs Walker told MailOnline: ‘He’s home and he’s safe.’
Describing her husband’s ordeal when he was struck by a car earlier this morning, she said: ‘It was a bit of a shock and very scary.’
Dan Walker is pictured leaving hospital this afternoon following a frightening collision near his family home
Walker tweeted: ‘Bit of an accident this morning. Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken’
She added: ‘He definitely won’t be going into work tonight.’
The presenter regularly makes the two-mile trip from his home, where he lives with his wife and three children Susanna, Joe and Jessica, to the station to catch the train down to London.
But his wife revealed that he was ‘out of it’ when he took selfies alongside two Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedics following the collision this morning.
Earlier, Walker tweeted: ‘Bit of an accident this morning. Glad to be alive after getting hit by a car on my bike. Face is a mess but I don’t think anything is broken.
‘Thanks to Shaun and Jamie for sorting me out and the lovely copper at the scene. This is my [sic] smiling. Thankful for our NHS.’
Sarah declined to say what injuries he sustained, but he appeared shaken and wobbly on his feet as he walked across the large drive and up the steps to his front door. His face looked swollen and bruised.
The presenter was making his way to the station to get a train down to London to host Channel 4 News
The presenter regularly makes the two-mile trip from his home, where he lives with his wife and three children Susanna, Joe and Jessica, to the train station
The former BBC presenter took selfies of his bloodied face from the inside of an ambulance as he shared details of the frightening incident
Walker thanked the two paramedics who treated him for the injuries before tweeting a picture of them from inside an ambulance
Walker was rising his bicycle (pictured) when he was struck by a car near his home in Sheffield this morning
The presenter poses for a selfie with his bicycle, believed to be the same bike he was using before the crash
When asked if he wanted to talk about the frightening experience, his wife replied: ‘Not for the time being thank you. He needs to rest.’
Walker is understood to have been replaced by Tessa Chapman as the lead anchor for Channel 5 News today.
His agent told The Times: ‘Walker is now in hospital recovering. It is understood the accident took place when the TV presenter was cycling from his home in Sheffield to the train station, where he was going to the Channel 5 studios in London.’
Walker has previously told of how he finds using taxis in London to be a ‘nightmare’ and instead commutes to work by bicycle.
Speaking in December, he said: ‘I can go from Downing Street to St Pancras in about 15 minutes, and it’s about 30 minutes in a taxi so although I feel like a bit of a geek sometimes, I’m very much enjoying it.’
‘My trousers don’t feel loose. My mince pies are probably offsetting the use of a bike.’
Social media users were quick to send their well-wishes, with TV colleagues also passing on their sympathy.
Walker picture with a bicycle. He has previously said cycles because he finds using taxis to be a ‘nightmare’
Walker pictured alongside dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, who were paired together for Strictly Come Dancing in 2021
Walker shared rare family snaps as he enjoyed a half term break to Rome with wife Sarah and their three children Susanna, Joe and Jessica last year
Jeremy Vine, who regularly posts clips of himself becoming involved in incidents with drivers, added: ‘Dan, so sorry to hear this. Looks really painful. Hoping for a good recovery. Sending love.’
Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse wrote: ‘Oh wow!!! Get well soon.’
Mark Clemmit said: ‘Mate… Much love from us.’
Dr Punam Krishan added: ‘Gosh! Glad you’re ok, what a shock that must’ve been. Hope you feel better soon x’.
Alan Hardy responded: ‘Simply awful, so sorry Dan. Hate my boys out cycling, I’m on tender hooks [sic] and this is why. Recover soon pal and hope it’s just cuts and bruises.’
Walker hosted BBC Breakfast from 2016 and took part in the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing, revealing he signed up for the show to do something ‘fun’ and have a ‘giggle’ after reporting on difficult news stories during the pandemic.
He also hosted Football Focus for 12 years, along with regular appearances on Match of the Day, the Grand National, Royal Ascot and the NFL Show.
Last year he replaced Sian Williams as the lead anchor for 5 News after she announced she was stepping down in April last year.
He also presents a number of other shows on Channel 5 including Digging for Treasure.
