ITV News presenter Lucrezia Millarini narrowly escaped death after plummeting from a first-floor balcony while on holiday. Reflecting on her life and career so far, the 50-year-old disclosed that the harrowing incident occurred while she was training to become a barrister.

Speaking to Woman's Weekly Magazine, she said: "As the first person in my family to go to university, I went on to Bar school and was just a pupillage away from becoming a barrister when my life took a dramatic turn.

"While on holiday in Zante, I fell from a first-floor balcony and came terrifyingly close to breaking my back. Everything happened in an instant," she added.

"I remember dragging myself to the flat below, collapsing on the floor and only later realising I was bleeding.

"The couple staying there called an ambulance. Soon after, I was being airlifted to mainland Greece and sedated," she recalled.

Lucrezia said knowing "how close" she came to death prompted her to reconsider her future and the professional path she had mapped out.

Concluding that a career in law was not her calling, she made the "bold decision" to return to university and pursue broadcast journalism.

"Sometimes life sends you a message you can't ignore – and this was mine," she added.

The journalist joined ITV News London in 2010 as an entertainment correspondent and now regularly fronts the ITV Evening News, alongside the ITV Lunchtime News.

Six years ago, Lucrezia also ventured beyond her comfort zone behind the desk to participate in Dancing on Ice.

Revealing the news at the time, she told The Sun: "I was actually at a friend's wedding in the summer and I got a call from my agent letting me know it's happening. She said, 'You'd better get your skates on'.

"As soon as the official announcement went up I was actually in a meeting at work and my phone just started to go crazy.

"My work colleagues have been very supportive. They thought it was funny to do an announcement live on air. So they presented me with a pair of padded knickers.

"Bum support – they thought I might fall over and need it. So cheers guys. Not very sexy," she added.

Teamed up with American skater Brendyn Hatfield, the newsreader dazzled with her performances but was eliminated sooner than anticipated.

Following her routine to Abba's Mamma Mia during musicals week, she became the second contestant to depart the competition.

Reflecting on her departure at the time, she remarked: "I've enjoyed it, it's been the craziest, weirdest thing I've done in my life. It's been real fun." Turning to her skating partner, the newsreader continued: "This guy is amazing."

The presenter has also featured in other programmes including The Weakest Link, The Chase and Celebrity Hunted.