The Only Way is Essex stars were devastated to learn that Yazmin Oukhellou had been involved in a horror car crash in the show’s latest episode.
The 28-year-old was rushed to hospital with injuries after the car she was in went over a 70ft cliff in Turkey in July.
The reality TV star was travelling with her boyfriend Jake McLean, who died in the accident at the age of 33, despite the best efforts of emergency services.
In Sunday’s episode of The Only Way Is Essex, the ITVBe show’s cast were seen learning of the fatal crash for the first time.
The long-running series started with a card reading: ‘Yazmin has been in a car accident and is recovering in hospital in Turkey’ before showing a group of the Essex friends, including Dani Imbert and Roman Hackett, comforting each other.
Among them was Yazmin’s best friend Junaid Ahmed, who through tears, said: ‘No one gets it. She is more than a best friend to me. She’s my sister and I can’t help her.’
Meanwhile, Chloe Meadows also struggled to accept the news and realised that ‘life is too short’ to worry about ‘petty dramas.’
She said: ‘I just can’t believe it. It’s so sad. It makes you realise there are bigger things that go on in the world than silly tit-for-tat arguments about nothing. Life is too short to worry about petty dramas anyway. I think this should change the way we think.’
James ‘Lockie’ Lock was also ‘shocked’ at the news of his former girlfriend- who was taken to a wellness retreat in Marrakech where she continues to recover almost two months on – and noted that she was ‘lucky’ to be alive.
He said: ‘I’m just shocked at what’s happened to Yaz. It’s mad. I can’t really get my head around it, to be honest. From what I know, she’s a lucky girl just to be alive. She’s stable, in hospital, her family are there. It’s scary. Puts everything in perspective.’
Yazmin paid a heartfelt tribute to McLean on Instagram hours after his funeral, which was held at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Woodford Green, Essex in August.
Sharing pictures of herself and McLean together, she said: ‘I have been taking some time away from social media to fully focus on my mental and physical recovery. I needed this time away to work on healing and processing everything as best as I can.
‘This has taught me that life is so short and we must cherish our loved ones as much as possible.
‘I am so grateful for our memories and the special time that Jake and I shared. I’ve not stopped thinking about him and I’ll miss him always. He will forever hold a special place in my heart. 🙏🤍👼
‘I want to thank everyone for their support and lovely messages. I truly appreciate each and every single one of you. 🙏.
‘Love Yaz 🤍.’
Yazmin also spoke about the crash in an interview with The Sun, saying she broke her own arm to escape the car and that she’s been struggling with nightmares since.
‘It was lay there and bleed to death, or snap my own arm to try to save us,’ she said.
‘I am just hoping for the best and do you know what? I could have been like Jake and not survived, so I am just very grateful that if that is the worst-case scenario I will deal with it as best I can,’ she added. ‘At least I am still alive.’
The Only Way Is Essex continues on Sunday on ITVBe and ITV Hub at 9pm
