Kate Garraway has been left “shaken” after a terrifying ordeal that saw her car tyre blow out on a motorway.
The Good Morning Britain presenter recalled the “utterly terrifying” incident, which occurred during the first family outing without her husband, Derek Draper, who has been in hospital since March after contracting coronavirus.
Kate thanked Kent Police on Instagram for coming to the rescue while she was left stranded in high-speed traffic, accompanied by a picture of the badly damaged Volvo.
Officers came and towed the vehicle to safety because there was no hard shoulder on the motorway.
The AA control centre realised that the presenter and her family were in a highly dangerous location and called the police. They provided recovery for her vehicle and a taxi and have left her a personal message.
Kate wrote: “Thanks to our amazing saviours Liz & Mark from @kentpoliceuk who rescued me after a full tyre blow out on the motorway!!! Never had one before – utterly terrifying.
“Managed to keep control of car but couldn’t get off motorway as no hard shoulder & when the AA said they couldn’t come for an hour, then rang after half an hour to say might still be an hour had no choice but to call the police.
“They were so brilliant and got us to safety and we are now on way home in taxi, shaken but safe, tow truck on way to car. It’s first time have taken kids out without Derek too, but we are safe.”
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Immediately that our AA control centre realised that Kate Garraway and her family were in a highly dangerous location on a motorway without hard shoulder, we called the police.
“This is always an emergency situation and our standard procedure on ‘smart’ motorways or slip roads without hard shoulders.
“This shows the dangers of breaking down in a live lane and why we have campaigned vigorously for more emergency refuge areas on smart motorways.
“We are delighted the police did a great job to move them off the motorway and Kate and her family are fine.
“We have been in contact with her and provided recovery for her vehicle and a taxi. I have also left a personal message to see if there is anything else we can do.
“This frightening incident shows the importance of hard shoulders or adequate emergency refuge areas and is also a good reminder for all drivers to check the pressure and condition of their tyres.”
The incident comes after Kate revealed nurses told her that her husband looked “focused and engaged” when they put GMB on for him.
Kate said her husband had endured a “tough week” following “big falls” in his blood pressure and swelling in his legs.