Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle has been forced to pull out of The Jump after a serious back injury saw her rushed to hospital.

The 30-year-old perfectly executed a jump during training but crashed in to a barrier on landing.

Beth Tweddle
Beth Tweddle (Channel 4)

A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed that Tweddle had been taken to hospital with a back injury but declined to comment on reports she would need surgery.

“The health and safety of the competitors is always paramount and Beth was immediately taken to hospital for treatment after hurting herself during training,” the spokeswoman said.

The bronze medal winner is the latest star to be injured in the winter sports competition.

Rebecca Adlington
Rebecca Adlington has also pulled out the competition (Ian Derry/Channel 4)

Her exit follows that of fellow Olympian Rebecca Adlington, 26, who withdrew from the show on medical advice after a shoulder injury, and Holby City actress Tina Hobley, 44, who dislocated her elbow and suffered two fractures to her arm.

Rebecca will be replaced by former contestant Heather Mills, who was knocked out in the first round in 2015 and was forced to compete in a unfamiliar prosthetic limb after breaking hers during training.

Heather, the former wife of Sir Paul McCartney, said: “I am overjoyed to be asked back by Channel 4 to join the competitors on The Jump, as I always felt it was unfinished business.

The Jump
Heather Mills took part in the last series of The Jump (Todd Anthony/Channel 4)

“Finishing second overall in the only event I got to compete in, The Skeleton, and having to jump wearing someone else’s foot, was pretty bad luck. I never even got to compete in skiing.

“I know I can do much better, and I am working with my prosthetist (Abdo Haidar of The London Prosthetic Centre) to create a foot that has more movement like a human’s.”

Rebecca said she was “so sad to be leaving on injury”.

She said: “I’m so proud of myself with the challenges I have overcome, from skeleton to jumping and learning how to ski. I’m very grateful to have met the most incredible people as well. It was so difficult but so much fun at the same time.”

Tina will be replaced by The Wanted’s Tom Parker. A replacement for Tweddle has not yet been announced.