TV Host Kirstie Allsopp Airlifted to Hospital After Fall on Devon Beach Path

Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp was transported by air ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery following a fall on a steep coastal path in Devon during a family birthday celebration on 2 September 2026.

The 55-year-old, known for hosting the long-running property series Location, Location, Location, slipped on a muddy section of the path while returning to her family home after a beach gathering at Welcombe Mouth. She shared details of the incident on Instagram, posting a photograph of herself in an ambulance with facial cuts and a breathing tube.

In her account of the accident, Allsopp described the family tradition that preceded the fall:

We have a picnic on the beach at Welcombe Mouth, a swim and a walk back to the house for some cake.

She explained that she had

slipped on a muddy patch on the steep path

while making her way back with her family members.

According to reports covering the incident, the fall resulted in a broken leg requiring immediate medical intervention. The rescue operation involved multiple agencies working to reach her remote location and transport her to medical care.

How was she rescued?

The rescue effort required coordination between several emergency services. Allsopp's son Oscar, aged 18, ran to seek assistance while she remained at the scene. The RNLI Bude Lifeboat paramedics and the Cornwall Air Ambulance service then located and extracted her from the steep terrain. She acknowledged the scale of the operation required, noting that

it took a whole host of people to get me to hospital

and that

after a little wait while poor Oscar ran as fast as he could to get help, and the RNLI Bude Lifeboat paramedics and Cornwall Air Ambulance tracked me down

, she received the care she needed.

Staff at Barnstaple Hospital provided her treatment, which she praised in her social media post.

Everyone at Barnstaple hospital has been amazing, kind and caring, so many lovely people doing their absolute best.

What was the extent of her injuries?

Allsopp underwent surgery on her leg and shared images showing the limb in bandages alongside X-ray images documenting the fracture. According to additional reporting on the incident, she also underwent a CT scan as part of her emergency assessment. She described receiving

a huge amount of painkillers

during her initial treatment, joking that she was

high as a kite

as a result.

How will this affect her work?

Allsopp has been presenting Location, Location, Location alongside Phil Spencer for many years, and the injury will impact the show's production schedule. According to reports on the production implications, Phil Spencer is taking over filming duties while she recovers. The presenter confirmed she would be

home soon

and noted that

it'll be a boot and crutches for a while, but I feel very, very lucky that it was possible to reach me and get me to hospital so quickly, and I have a job that I can do on crutches.

This is not Allsopp's first injury-related absence from the show; she previously missed filming in 2023 following a separate fall that required bed rest, indicating that such incidents have affected production before.

What has been the public response?

Several public figures responded to Allsopp's Instagram post with messages of support. Broadcaster and musician Jools Holland commented:

Poor you get well soon xx

. Property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband of Princess Beatrice, wrote:

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Interior designer Rita Konig shared her own reflections on the hazards of steep coastal paths, commenting:

I have to say, I thought about this on my way down some steep paths to the beach this summer and wondered what the exit strategy is if one slips and busts something like an ankle!! Sending lots of love. Xxx.

Reflecting on the experience, Allsopp concluded her social media account of the incident by stating:

Not a birthday I am going to forget in a hurry and again, thank you to all those who have been involved in my care.

Key Facts

• Allsopp, 55, fell on a muddy path at Welcombe Mouth in Devon on 2 September 2026 while returning from a family birthday celebration
• She was airlifted by the Cornwall Air Ambulance and underwent emergency leg surgery at Barnstaple Hospital
• The rescue involved her son Oscar, RNLI Bude Lifeboat paramedics, and the air ambulance service
• She will require crutches and a boot during recovery but expects to continue work on Location, Location, Location
• Phil Spencer is covering filming duties during her absence from the show