Leslie Ash, 65, makes a rare public appearance using a pink walking stick as she leaves The Vanessa Feltz Show after issuing new health update
Leslie Ash made a rare public appearance as she stepped out in London following her appearance on The Vanessa Feltz Show on Friday.
The actress, 65, recently shared a new health update, two decades after contracting an MSSA superbug that nearly left her unable to walk.
She was awarded a record £5 million in compensation in 2008 after acquiring the infection in hospital.
For her latest outing, Leslie looked radiant in a pink maxi dress with red detailing as she left the studio.
She used a pink walking stick for support and paired her look with white trainers and a black handbag.
Accessorising with layered jewellery, Leslie appeared in good spirits as she made her way to a waiting car.
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Last month, Leslie reflected on the incident that changed her life.
She was admitted to hospital in April 2004 after cracking two ribs during a fall from bed amid an intimate moment with her husband, former footballer Lee Chapman.
But it was while she was in hospital for this injury that she contracted a 'deadly strain' of the MRSA superbug because of an abscess that had developed in her spinal column - which could have left her permanently unable to walk.
Leslie revealed she was only given a 'slight hope of recovery' by doctors, who thought she'd be wheelchair-bound by the time she was 60 due to a life-changing spine condition.
Against all odds, the Quadrophenia star has bounced back and rarely relies on a trusty walking stick, let alone a wheelchair.
Now 20-years later, Leslie spoke to Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain about her current health state.
She said: 'I will never be the same as I was, obviously. But yeah, It is 20 years exactly and It's fine.
'I love working still, I can still do bits. Nowhere near what it was before but I'm feeling really really really good. I'm very healthy.'
She added: 'They said I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 60 but I think, I'm ver lucky. You know, my husbands helped me with my rehab and getting me into the gym.
'And really making sure that I stay fit. You've got to keep your core strong. There are so many things you have to do, mentally as well.'
The Men Behaving Badly star previously admitted she needed 'mental strength' to keep fighting her condition, but has defied doctors expectations.
Leslie, who was given a bleak prognosis following the string of unfortunate events, told The Sun: 'They said I'd be in a wheelchair by 60 because of my terrible hips and knees. I was only given a slight hope of recovery but because I wanted it enough I was able to achieve what I have today.'
Back in 2008, Leslie successfully sued the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and won an astonishing £5million in compensation, as she had contracted the antibiotic-resistant MSSA form of the infection after an epidural needle came loose.
The payout was so hefty because there was a belief she would not return to ongoing TV roles - and the compensation reflected the future loss of earnings.
Of the importance of staying optimistic, the Oxfordshire-born star said: 'If I sat down and did nothing I'd be in a wheelchair now, without a doubt. You need a lot of mental strength to keep fighting.'
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