The partner of Mary Portas has been taken to hospital after fainting and breaking her ankle days before she is due to give birth.
Melanie Rickey, an editor at fashion magazine Grazia, said she “blacked out”, broke her ankle in three places and is now confined to a wheelchair.
The 39-year-old civil partner of the Queen of Shops retail guru received sympathy after revealing her plight on Twitter.
“Had a very good day and a very bad day today: passed (driving) Theory Test, then I broke my ankle in three places,” she told her 28,000 followers. “Words fail other than that.”
Later, she revealed she would need an operation, tweeting: “Yes :( screws/plates n everyfing.”
Novelist Linda Grant was one of many friends to offer her support and following the operation, Ms Rickey tweeted her thanks. “You are so kind, and you sent me cakes! Cheered me up so much when I came out of surgery xxx.”
Ms Rickey reportedly conceived using IVF. She met Ms Portas, 52, who has advised David Cameron on Britain’s retail sector, at the Royal College of Art.
The tweets gave a rare glimpse into a relationship which both partners try to keep private. During a recent interview for Vogue magazine, Rachel Johnson asked Ms Portas for insight into their civil partnership. “I never do personal stuff,” she replied. “I’d rather snog Ken Livingstone.”
Ms Portas was once married to chemical engineer Graham Portas, with whom she has two children, Mylo, 18, and Verity, 16.
