A Place In The Sun's Danni Menzies' horror crash left her scarred and with PTSD

Danni Menzies was living the dream as a presenter on Channel 4's A Place in the Sun until a horror moped crash in October 2022 changed her life forever.

👉 Click Here to read in detail 👈

Danni Menzies may have bid farewell to her role on A Place in the Sun last year, but life has taken her on an unexpected and deeply personal odyssey since.

"Life's had its ups and downs, to be honest. The first month after I left the show, I had the best working month of my life and I got some really amazing opportunities," Danni, 37, reflects.

‌

Article continues below

The Scots TV host was initially uncertain about her future but then experienced a remarkable period: "I didn't know what was going to happen next, and then I had this amazing month where I was like, 'wow, everything's going to be OK. The doors are opening."

However, her newfound optimism was abruptly shattered in October 2022 when she suffered a severe moped accident caused by a stolen vehicle. The incident left her unconscious, permanently scarred, and battling PTSD.

"Life just kind of stopped. The last few years were hard at times after that," she concedes.

‌

The accident brought a stark realisation for Danni about the precariousness of existence: "When something like that happens, you definitely realise how fragile life is. I mean, it could have been so much worse. I could've been killed. I could've had brain damage. I was really lucky to come out of it the way I did. It makes you realise that everything can change in a moment and tomorrow's never promised. You have to try and live more in the present."

‌

In her journey towards healing, Danni underwent eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), a therapeutic technique designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, which has been instrumental in managing her PTSD symptoms, writes The Mirror.

"I've been working with a therapist for a year because I would get quite jumpy in public places and I was getting anxious and struggling with self-worth," she admits. "I still don't really understand how it works in your brain, but it does something. There were places near where the accident happened that I used to avoid walking near and I'd get quite unreasonably anxious. It seems to have really worked for me on that front."

Danni embarked on a transformative journey, making significant changes such as quitting alcohol, committing to a rigorous workout routine of five times a week, and deciding to sell her flat.

‌

"I went on a bit of a wellness journey and did a lot of soul searching. The end result is amazing. Doing all these therapies I would have never have done otherwise has helped me get to a place where I feel better than I ever have, which is pretty amazing," she shares.

In addition to these changes, Danni, who is currently single, has chosen to freeze her eggs while she still can. "I worried about fertility in my early 30s before the accident. A year or so beforehand, one of my friends found out she couldn't conceive at the age of 32. That makes you go, 'oh, is that going to be me?' I had no idea.

"For two years after the accident, I wasn't thinking about anything like that. I was just trying to get my head back into a good place. Now that I'm out the other side, I feel like I lost the last few years in terms of my career and dating at a really important time in my life."

‌

Danni has successfully harvested 10 healthy eggs. After receiving an outpouring of support from diverse individuals who followed her journey online, she is eager to shed light on a topic that holds personal significance for her.

"I still want all the things I wanted before. I'd like to meet someone and have children and I still want to make it in my career and do some bigger, better things. That's going to take longer now because I had a massive setback. If I'm realistic about that, it means I can't really take time out for children in the next two or three years at least. That's a hard pill to swallow because you want to be able to have it all," she shares.

‌

"Luckily there are things available, like egg freezing. Had the accident not happened I may not be in a position where I needed to do it, but maybe I would, who knows? But it's definitely something that I've thought about for a while."

Danni, known for her six-year stint as the host of A Place in the Sun, is set to grace our screens once more with A Place in the Sun: What Happened Next. In this series, she reconnects with house hunters from past seasons to uncover their stories in the years following their appearances on the show.

‌

"When What Happened Next came along, it was really amazing timing for me because although I was still struggling with PTSD and my mental health in general, it gave me purpose again," she discloses. "I was working with people I already knew on something I was already familiar with, so it was amazing to go back and do that. It really was the right time."

Regarding her future prospects, she remains optimistic. "It's scary but I feel weirdly calm about everything. I had a plan and the plan is happening," she shares.

"I just know there's something big around the corner. I don't know where it is or how it's going to happen, but I can feel it in my bones. I've been through the wringer with everything that's happened, and I know that something really great is going to happen soon."

Article continues below

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

👉 Click Here to read in detail 👈

Miatamil

Listed here the latest Trending News