Laura Woods reveals gruesome cuts to arms and face suffered in freak accident ‘swinging a pillow into glass lampshade’, as shaken TNT Sports presenter thanks ‘hero’ boyfriend Adam Collard and surgeons

Laura Woods has explained her recent absence from television by revealing she is recovering from surgery after suffering serious face and arm injuries while on holiday.

The 36-year-old is best known for being the host of TNT Sports’ Champions League, Premier League and boxing coverage after making the switch from talkSPORT last year where she starred as a breakfast show anchor.

However, Woods has missed televised duties in recent weeks and has been noticeably missed in the build-up to Tyson Fury’s heavyweight unification bout set to take place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Woods has now revealed the extent of her serious injuries caused after a glass lampshade shattered on her in an attempt to quell speculation about her absence.

Providing a public update on her condition, Woods posted a series of gruesome images on her Instagram page alongside a lengthy explanation of what had happened and the subsequent surgery she underwent.

‘Just wanted to explain my absence from the telly for a little while, to be totally transparent and avoid any speculation. I had an accident last weekend at a holiday cottage,’ she said. 

‘I swung a pillow and hit a large, glass lampshade hanging from the ceiling above me, which shattered and cut my face and arms, but luckily missed my eye,’ she continued.

Woods went on to express her heartfelt gratitude to her boyfriend, Adam Collard and the medical staff that rushed to provide surgery on the former Sports Journalist of the Year award winner.

Her post continued: ‘I wanted to say a couple of thank yous, firstly to Adam, for being my hero that day, acting so quickly and not leaving my side since and to his family for taking care of me in a time when I was petrified. 

‘To my agents Alex Maguire and Matthew Odonohue at CAA who searched for the best help immediately. To Dr Yannis Alexandrides and his wonderful medical assistant Zuzanna at 111 who opened their emergency surgery and came in on their days off, they were so gentle and have already worked magic that I didn’t think was possible to reduce the damage.

‘I’ve added in the photos from then to now to show that even though it may look rough, it’s such a wonderful improvement already and I’m so grateful.

‘It was a hell of a shock and I’ve been a bit sad, but I’m feeling very lucky it wasn’t worse. So a big thanks to my eyebrow too, for taking the brunt of it. 

‘I’m gutted I can’t cover the fight in Riyadh tomorrow anymore, but wishing the brilliant TNT boxing team all the best. Be back soon xx,’ she added.

The worst injuries were suffered to Woods’ face after glass cut her around the right eyebrow and forced blood to spill out of the deep cuts that required stitches and down her face.

One of the images Woods shared shows the presenter in pain as plasters attempt to temporarily stem the flow of blood caused by the broken lampshade.

She also posted an image of the glass lampshade in question that Woods accidentally hit with a pillow and subsequently shattered glass across the holiday cottage.

Woods was full of gratitude for those who had helped her through the worst of the accident and reserved special praise for her boyfriend and former Love Island contestant, Collard, for being a ‘hero’.

Collard was present with Woods at the time of the accident and as explained by the presenter rushed to the scene and provided a calming presence at a time when she was ‘petrified’.

The pair only recently went public with their relationship in October and appear to have been spending plenty of private getaways together prior to their latest cottage drama.

Woods previously declared her ‘love’ for the 28-year-old who commented on her Instagram status showing her injuries with a post reading: ‘little trooper’ alongside three love hearts.

Woods initially feared the worst upon suffering the injury but has been amazed by the surgery and follow-up work on her face that has done wonders on the cuts above and below her eye.

The emergency operation was completed by renowned plastic surgeon Dr Yannis Alexandrides who is the founder and medical director of popular London-based clinic 111 Harley St.

In-person consultations with Dr Alexandrides at the expert facility cost £350, with the establishment being one of London’s best plastic surgery specialists.