Dancing On Ice star Frankie Poultney has revealed show bosses will be overlooking the show’s safety protocols in the wake of Adam Johnson’s fatal ice hockey accident.
Nottingham Panthers player Adam’s throat was cut by an opponent’s skate blade when they collided during a match against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday.
In light of the tragic accident, Frankie has now revealed how Dancing On Ice can be made safer in light of the horrific news.
The professional skater, 50, partnered celebrities on the hit ITV show from 2007 until 2016, including ex Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman who she married in February 2015. In January this year, they featured as Pillar And Post on The Masked Dancer.
Speaking to MailOnline about how the skating competition will be affected by the tragedy, she mused: ‘I’m sure DOI bosses will be responding to this incident by putting more safety measures in place and be taking preventative precautions.’
Speaking out: Dancing On Ice’s Frankie Poultney has revealed show bosses will be overlooking the show’s safety protocols in the wake of Adam Johnson’s fatal ice hockey accident
Horrific: Nottingham Panthers player Adam’s throat was cut by an opponent’s skate blade when they collided during a match against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday (pictured in 2017)
She continued: ‘Safety at the training sessions on the ice rinks (outside of the studio) are pretty solitary, it’s more often than not just a pro and their celeb so I would imagine they’ll be stepping up supervision on those days.
‘And hopefully reigning in the requests for the more dangerous tricks except from the more capable celebs/pro partnerships.’
She added that am accident of such severe nature hadn’t been discussed in training on the show, saying: ‘I’m pretty sure nobody has ever thought this could happen as it’s such a rare tragedy.
‘Most of the celebs don’t realise how hard skating is until they start training.’
Sending her condolences to Adam’s loved ones, she added: ‘This is such an upsetting and tragic accident, and my heart goes out to the family, friends and teammates of Adam, as well as the other teams players and officials at the game.
‘Ice skating is a dangerous sport and sometimes people forget that when they see the costumes, lights and make-up or get caught up in the thrill of a hockey game.
‘I’ve certainly had my fair share of accidents and seen plenty more but nothing as awful as this thankfully.’
Frankie revealed her former skating partner Jeff Waters severed an artery in his legs after slipping and falling on another skater’s blade, adding ‘it was a reminder that while accidents like this are very rare and highly unusual, sometimes tragedies can happen and lives can be changed in the blink of an eye.’
Skills: The professional skater, 50, partnered celebrities on the hit ITV show from 2007 until 2016, including ex England goalkeeper David Seaman who she married in February 2015 (pictured together on the show in 2014)
She continued: ‘Like most ice-based sports, ice hockey is a really fast paced dynamic game and most people cannot imagine the speed and agility the players perform at unless they’ve seen the game.
‘The players already wear a lot of safety equipment but I’m sure the governing body will be looking at what other measures can be put in place following this tragic accident.’
READ MORE: Olympian Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards replaces Stephen Lustig-Webb on Dancing On Ice
While Frankie offered her advice for stricter safety protocols, she revealed she couldn’t envision anything severe happening on the ITV show.
She explained: ‘I’m sure all the new pros joining this year will also be fully qualified to deal with accidents and incidents on the ice just as well as the older and more experienced exiting pros were.
‘Thankfully although this has been an awful tragedy, ice skating related deaths are very rare so fingers, toes and eyes crossed, everyone has a safe and enjoyable series.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
Dancing On Ice has seen several gruesome accidents on the rink over the years.
This year has been no exception, with Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb forced to quit the show after breaking his ankle in a horror fall.
After suffering a freak accident in training last week, he was rushed to the Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth, where medics told him he had broken his left ankle and would be on crutches for at least the next three months.
The TV personality underwent an operation to put metal plates into his ankle for additional support, but there’s no hope of him getting back on the ice.
Sources close to Stephen say he had been ‘thoroughly enjoying the new challenge’ and getting to know judges Torvill and Dean as well as the other celebrity contestants and is ‘gutted’ to be losing his place in the competition before the show has even started.
Ouch: Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb was forced to quit the show last week before the series even began after breaking his ankle in a horror fall
They said: ‘Stephen is devastated… he is absolutely gutted.
‘He was loving training but while turning on his skates he snapped his ankle and was rushed to hospital.
‘After two days and an operation to put metal plates into his left ankle, medics informed him that there wasn’t a chance he could return to training, so he had no other option but to pull out of the competition.’
A spokesperson for Dancing On Ice said: ‘Stephen Lustig-Webb has had to withdraw from the show due to an injury he sustained to his ankle during training.
‘He is still very much a part of the Dancing On Ice family, we will be helping to support Stephen and we wish him well with his recovery.’
DANCING ON ICE: MEET THE 2024 CONTESTANTS
RICKY HATTON
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: Former pro boxer
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink’
HANNAH SPEARRITT
AGE: 42
PROFESSION: SINGER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m really excited about learning a new skill. It’s so easy to live your comfortable life and that aspect of mixing things up is very appealing’
GREG RUTHERFORD
AGE: 36
PROFESSION: Athlete
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I like a challenge and I needed a reason to go out and do stuff again and here we are. I want to perform something that’s never been done before, that’s my aim.’
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
AGE: 59
PROFESSION: OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Dancing on Ice is a show I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a challenge I think I’m going to relish!’
RICKY NORWOOD
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: EastEnders star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘It’s come at such a great time in life. I can’t skate at all! No rehearsals as yet, I’ve just had some physiotherapy to strengthen the body.’
RYAN THOMAS
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: Corrie star
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘Everyone keeps asking me, “are you doing it?” I’ve told everyone!’
CLAIRE SWEENEY
AGE: 52
PROFESSION: ACTRESS
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I am stepping into the unknown here. I don’t know how I will feel. But I am very excited.’
AMBER DAVIES
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: WEST END STAR
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I would definitely say that I’m an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them’
MILES NAZAIRE
AGE: 27
PROFESSION: REALITY STAR
WHAT DID HE SAY? ‘I’ve always loved to dance but it’s usually on a dance floor on a Saturday night and Dancing on Ice looks so difficult.’
LOU SANDERS
AGE: 37
PROFESSION: COMEDIAN
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I’m nervous about cracking my head open, or just bashing the old head. I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.’
ADELE ROBERTS
AGE: 44
PROFESSION: RADIO PRESENTER
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘It’s ”bricking it on ice” for me! I think the hardest part is putting myself out there as I usually hide away’
ROXY SHAHIDI
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: Emmerdale star
WHAT DID SHE SAY? ‘I can’t ice-skate. I haven’t really said anything to anyone but mainly because I’m so nervous about it!’
