Claudia Winkleman still haunted by her daughter’s horrific Halloween accident

claudia winkleman

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

Claudia Winkleman's daughter was caught in a horrific accident three years ago after her Halloween costume caught fire, leaving her with severe injuries.

Claudia, 45, has opened up about her daughter Matilda's accident, who was eight-years-old at the time, after she was left with severe burns to her leg when her Halloween costume caught fire three years ago.

The Strictly Come Dancing presenter described how the family had gone out trick or treating at the time.

WATCH: Claudia Winkleman tells BBC News: 'My daughter was on fire'

Speaking to Best Magazine, Claudia revealed that she is still haunted by her daughter's screams.

She said: "I don't like Halloween because three years ago it turned out our screams were real.

"She 'went up' is the only way I can describe it - it was a spark, and she screamed out for me.

"It was like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back. It was really fast. It was definitely life-changing for me."

Claudia, who is mum to Jake, 14, and Arthur, six, as well as 11-year-old Matilda, told the publication how the accident had happened whilst the family had gone out trick or treating.

She said: "I was talking to somebody and then I heard her shout and she was on fire. It feels like she was on fire for hours, but the surgeon said it was probably just seconds."

Thankfully, Matilda survived the horrendous ordeal, but both her and Claudia have been left traumatised by the event.

Claudia told Watchdog in 2015: "It was definitely life changing for me. I can’t remember life before it."

She described what happened: "We couldn't put her out. Her tights had melted into her skin."

Her daughter had to have several operations, but was left with burns on her leg as they had been unable to put the fire out on her tights.

She said: "It was not like fire I had seen before.

"Like if your shirt caught fire or anything I could put it out. It was the tights that... Came back to life.

Did Claudia's traumatic ordeal change the way you think about your children's Halloween costumes? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.

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