Former TOWIE Star's Son Suffers Severe Finger Injury in Ice Skating Mishap
Chloe Lewis, the former star of The Only Way Is Essex, has disclosed a harrowing incident involving her six-year-old son Beau, who had his finger completely severed in a distressing ice skating accident. The 35-year-old television personality, who shares Beau with her ex-partner Danny Flasher, took to Instagram on Thursday evening to relay the traumatic news to her followers, detailing the events that unfolded on New Year's Eve.
A Parent's Worst Nightmare Unfolds
Lewis recounted receiving the dreaded phone call no parent ever wishes to receive, informing her that Beau had been involved in a terrible accident while ice skating. She described how her son fell on the ice, and another skater inadvertently ran over his finger with their bladed skate, resulting in the complete amputation of the digit. The former reality star admitted she was in a state of shock, barely recalling how she managed to drive the 45 minutes to reach her injured child.
Upon arrival, Lewis found Beau wrapped in a silver medical blanket, his brave demeanor both heartbreaking and inspiring. "His little face melted my heart," she wrote, explaining how he reassured her, saying, "It's fine mum, you don't need to cry, I'm OK. My finger's going to be OK." The pair were then rushed via blue-light ambulance to The Royal London Hospital for emergency treatment.
Surgical Efforts and Emotional Aftermath
At the hospital, Beau underwent X-rays and was eventually taken into surgery around 8 p.m. Lewis described watching her child being put under anesthesia as "probably the worst thing I've ever experienced." After three and a half hours in the operating theatre, the plastic surgeon informed her that the procedure had gone well, though the reattachment of the finger was ultimately unsuccessful.
Eight weeks after the accident, Lewis revealed that the reattached portion of the finger did not survive, meaning Beau may require another minor operation to remove it if it does not fall away naturally. The emotional toll has been profound, with Lewis admitting the experience has left her feeling "broken" and struggling to comprehend the reality of what occurred.
Campaigning for Legislative Change
Determined to prevent similar tragedies, Chloe Lewis has launched a petition urging the government to mandate protective gloves for children while ice skating. She shared the petition link on her Instagram Story, writing, "As I'll never be able to bring his finger back, I'd love all your support in helping me change the Law to stop this happening to other children."
The petition requires 100,000 signatures to be considered for parliamentary debate. Lewis expressed hope that one day she could tell Beau that his accident led to meaningful safety reforms, stating, "I hope one day I can tell Beau I changed the law because of him."
Personal Background and Previous Challenges
Chloe Lewis and Danny Flasher, who met in 2016 and welcomed Beau in October 2019, separated in 2023 after seven years together. In a previous Instagram Q&A, Lewis described the split as following a "rubbish" and "complicated" period, confirming she is now a single mother focused solely on her son.
Lewis also opened up about earlier personal struggles, including the tragic loss of one of her twins during pregnancy in 2019. She spoke candidly about the emotional difficulty of grieving while carrying a healthy baby, noting it took months to come to terms with the loss before focusing on the blessing of Beau's birth.
The former TOWIE star, who joined the show in 2015, gained fame through her on-off relationship with co-star Jake Hall before leaving the series upon finding love with Flasher. Despite the recent hardships, Lewis remains optimistic about the future, expressing in her Q&A that she "always wanted a big family" and hasn't ruled out expanding her family someday.
Through sharing her family's ordeal, Chloe Lewis aims to raise awareness about ice skating safety and advocate for protective measures that could spare other children from similar injuries.
