Hollyoaks star Ellie Henry has revealed she had a terrifying setback in her battle with epilepsy. 

The actress, who played Freya Calder in the Channel 4 soap, experienced a seizure ‘out of nowhere’ which has left her unable to shower, walk her dog, or be in the house alone. 

The 23-year-old explained in an emotional Instagram post that she hadn’t had a seizure for almost five years before the incident. 

Ellie, who is a wheelchair user, said her seizures have been ‘life-threatening’ in the past and she must now be under constant supervision. 

The soap star added that the ‘loss hurts a lot’ as she had ‘worked so hard to become independent’. 

Sharing a pH๏τo of herself sitting on a grey car and holding a gold 0 balloon, she wrote: ‘I should be celebrating 5 years seizure free this week but instead I announce 0 days.’

Hollyoaks star Ellie Henry has revealed she had a terrifying setback in her battle with epilepsy

She explained that she’d had her first seizure in five years in an Instagram post 

The 23-year-old experienced a seizure ‘out of nowhere’ which has left her unable to shower, walk her dog, or be in the house alone

Ellie went on: ‘Having a seizure out of nowhere after almost 5 years has been the biggest confidence knock.

‘I’d be lying if I said this didn’t feel like a huge step back but I have to choose to keep moving.

‘I can no longer shower, walk my dog, nip to the shop or just be in the house alone as I have to be under constant supervision because my seizures can/have been life threatening which is a big loss for someone who has worked so hard to become independent.’

‘It does also mean I’ll be saying goodbye to my beloved car and driving licence.’

‘As a wheelchair user, my car may as well be my legs and ticket to freedom. The loss hurts a lot. This is life with epilepsy,’ Ellie concluded the post, alongside a purple love heart emoji. 

Ellie was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at the age of 15 after dislocating her hip during a dance class and now uses a wheelchair most of the time. 

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs. 

‘It means that none of my joints really work properly. I had an accident when I was 15 and it meant my hip dislocated so I had nerve damage in my leg,’ she explained in a Facebook video in August.   

Ellie, who is a wheelchair user, said her seizures have been ‘life-threatening’ in the past and she must now be under constant supervision

Ellie played student Freya Calder on Hollyoaks from 2022 until her departure earlier this year 

She said: ‘Before that, I had no idea I was disabled, so up until that moment I was really sporty, I was flexible, I was in gymnastics, every sport I was doing.

Read More Hollyoaks newcomer Ellie Henry’s character Freya to suffer life-changing injuries in a minibus crash in heartbreaking storyline

‘Everything was a bit bleak and I sort of lost who I was. 

‘I had to learn to walk again. I had to stay in hospital for thee four months.

‘As the years have gone on, I’ve done physio, I’ve got a lot stronger and now I’m able to walk a bit.’

She added: ‘But still a lot of the time I do have to use my wheelchair.’

Ellie explained that she took up sit-skiing earlier this year as a way to build her confidence. 

Sit-skiing is a type of adaptive skiing that allows people with limited mobility to ski by sitting in a bucket seat suspended above skis.

The actress raved about the activity, saying: ‘It’s sort of like flying but it’s on the ground. It’s just so free.’ 

In November, she shared a clip of herself whizzing down an indoor ski slope on Instagram.  

Her character suffered life-changing injuries in 2022 after John Paul (pictured) crashed a minibus 

The soap star – who began using a wheelchair after dislocating her hip – took up sit-skiing earlier this year 

‘6 months of skiing,’ the star wrote.  

‘This sport has given me back a little piece of who I was before and now I don’t think I could ever stop.

‘These lessons wouldn’t be possible without @disabilitysnowsportuk who have the best instructors and provide all the kit! 

WHAT IS EPILEPSY?

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and leaves patients at risk of seizures.

Around one in 100 people in the UK have epilepsy, Epilepsy Action statistics reveal.

And in the US, 1.2 per cent of the population have the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anyone can have a seizure, which does not automatically mean they have epilepsy.

Usually more than one episode is required before a diagnosis.

Seizures occur when there is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, which causes a disruption to the way it works.

Some seizures cause people to remain alert and aware of their surroundings, while others make people lose consciousness.

Some also make patients experience unusual sensations, feelings or movement, or go stiff and fall to the floor where they jerk.

Epilepsy can be brought on at any age by a stroke, brain infection, head injury or problems at birth that lead to lack of oxygen.

But in more than half of cases, a cause is never found.

Anti-epileptic drugs do not cure the condition but help to stop or reduce seizures.

If these do not work, brain surgery can be effective.

Source: Epilepsy Action

Advertisement

‘I’m absolutely not sposnored in saying it, they’re just a great charity providing great opportunities!’

The talented star played student Freya in Hollyoaks from 2022 until her character’s departure this year.

Her character was introduced as a friend of Mason Chen-Williams (Frank Kauer) on a school camping trip.

In 2022, Freya suffered life-changing injuries in a minibus crash storyline.

A school trip ended in disaster when teacher John Paul (James Sutton) crashed the vehicle as a result of his alcohol dependency.

Immediately after the crash, Mason realised Freya was still in the van and tried to help her, but to no avail as she was stuck between the luggage and revealed she couldn’t feel her legs. 

Despite the injury, Freya stopped her mother, Lexi Calder, from prosecuting John Paul.

After Lexi’s murder, at the hands of Silas Blissett, Freya left Hollyoaks.

She returned for the Hollyoaks High School prom in July 2023, reconnecting with Mason but struggling with memories of Lexi’s death and bitterness toward the McQueens.

Talking about joining the Channel 4 soap, Ellie said: ‘To join the cast of Hollyoaks and be thrown straight into filming a stunt has been incredible, and unlike anything I could’ve imagined.

‘Freya has so much to come to terms with after the crash and, as a disabled actor, I feel privileged to be able to tell her story.

‘I’ve had a wonderful time filming so far and have already learnt a great deal from other actors who I’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with. 

‘I am beyond excited for you all to see what we’ve been working on.’