SHAKEN Shirley Ballas has hailed her make-up artist for saving her from choking to death on a fishbone.

, 65, praised Jane Burstow, saying: “Gratitude to Jane because I panicked. I really thought that was it, the end, amen.”

A smiling Shirley Ballas in a pleated gold dress.Shirley Ballas has hailed her make-up artist for saving her from choking to death on a fishbone, just minutes before a live showCredit: instagram/bbcstrictly Shirley Ballas smiling while wearing a white dress with feather-trimmed sleeves.Head judge Shirley, 65, praised makeup artist Jane BurstowCredit: Instagram/Janeburstow

Shirley had been preparing backstage at the Tower Ballroom 30 minutes before went live to more than seven million viewers on Saturday.

She told fans: “I choked on a fishbone. It got lodged in my throat and my wonderful Jane, who has been with me for nine years, did the and we got the bone out. But for 20 minutes there, it was lodged and I couldn’t breathe so it was terrifying.”

Sharing a video on as she had her hair done by Jane in her dressing room, Shirley added: “We’d have been a judge down tonight if it wasn’t for her.”

Shirley returned to London on Saturday night and updated fans on her condition yesterday saying: “I’m a bit hoarse, but all is good.”

In another post she said: “Almost didn’t make it to the desk last night.”

Shirley has vowed to learn the Heimlich manoeuvre which involves abdominal thrusts to dislodge items trapped in a person’s airway.

She said: “I’m going to study now in case I ever come across anybody who needs my help.”

Queen of Latin Shirley, who took over as head judge from in 2017, has faced a series of personal challenges.

Last year she revealed she had .

She had three biopsies before being given the all clear, having decided to have a mammogram after pro dancer was

Before finding out her results, Shirley told The Sun: “I’m worried I’ve worked myself to death.

“It’s been terrifying, to have the needle go in your body to numb it before the biopsy.

“I feel very emotional. I’m not the same at work at the moment, so I’m teaching, but it’s constantly on my mind.”

In October 2024 she told how she had been diagnosed with a degenerative spine disorder which left her in constant pain due to years of dancing.

I’ll never feel completely safe again. I’m looking around, watching all the time and life shouldn’t have to be like that

Shirley on stalker

She explained: “It is three types of operation. And I don’t want to do the operations so I am doing anti-inflammatory. I am trying to do more juicing, ice bathing. Oh yeah, I have got a brass monkey ice bath. I can go up to about four minutes now, I have built up to in the freezing, freezing cold at 5am.

“So I would say it really stimulates me to start my day, plus I have cut my hours down at work because I don’t want any operations for as long as I possibly don’t have to have any.”

This February stalker , who believed Shirley was his aunt, admitted harassing her over six years.

He was later given a suspended prison sentence.

Shirley Ballas in a pink sequined dress.Shirley has vowed to learn the Heimlich manoeuvreCredit: Olivia West

Shirley said: “I’ll never feel completely safe again. I’m looking around, watching all the time and life shouldn’t have to be like that.”

She is now single after a six-year with actor , 51, ended last November.

She was previously married to dancers Sammy Stopford (from 1980-84) Corky Ballas (1985-2007).

Talking about Danny she said: “There was no question about how much I loved that man.

“But along the line, there were red flags that I chose to ignore, but it just got to a point where the relationship was becoming too difficult for me in many ways.

“My relationships have been a disaster, all the way along the line.”

Heimlich tip

By Dr Helen Wall

THE Heimlich manoeuvre, also known as abdominal thrusts, is still a part of first aid and can be life-saving.

Everybody should know how to do it, but we’d recommend only using it if there’s a complete airway obstruction.

This means the person can’t breath or cough, and usually is silent and panicking — sometimes turning blue.

In this case, give back blows — five sharp, firm hits with the heel of the hand between the shoulder blades.

If that doesn’t dislodge the obstruction, move to abdominal thrusts, while someone also calls 999.

Stand behind the person, wrap your arms around their waist, make a fist above their belly button and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times.

Fishbones tend to lodge in the airway and cause a sharp pain, creating a partial rather than full blockage.

If you use the Heimlich manoeuvre when someone can breath and cough, you risk pushing something like a fishbone deeper and causing injury.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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