Alison Mitchell revealed during a cricket interview on the BBC that she suffered a health scare while in Australia and was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.
Cricket commentator Alison Mitchell has returned to the UK from Australia after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.
Mitchell, 44, works in Australia for the BBC World Service and local broadcaster Channel Seven and was covering Australia's Test series against the West Indies. The award-winning presenter and commentator worked Down Under for several months before experiencing a health scare and returning to the UK.
She tweeted: “Well, returning to the UK with a deep vein thrombosis wasn't part of the plan. But I'm so glad it actually got caught. And the NHS is just like the healthcare workers in Oz. Thank you for your quick response to this issue. Wear your flight socks, move, and stay hydrated!”
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a vein that can be very serious. It causes swelling and pain and can be life-threatening if left untreated. If you travel long distances, you may get DVT.
Replying to her followers on Twitter, Ms Mitchell said she felt “very lucky” to have had the problem diagnosed before flying to the UK, but said it was still a “shock”. In another comment, she added: “The health care workers sorted me out. I just need a little patience now.”
Mitchell is a highly respected broadcaster, best known for her work in cricket, but has also covered tennis, hockey, netball and golf, as well as Olympic sports for the BBC and elsewhere.
She first reported on Test matches for the BBC in 2003 and is recognized as a pioneer for women in the industry. She's a familiar voice on her BBC Test Her Match Special program, but she also works on Sky She Sport and She's TNT Sport's predecessor, BT Sport, and plays tennis and netball. It's covered.
Mitchell presents a weekly cricket podcast called Stumped, which is broadcast on the BBC World Service, All India Radio and ABC Grandstand. She received the SJA Sports Broadcaster of the Year award in 2013 and is also a featured speaker at events.
