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amanda's sister fights for life

Amanda Holden ‘in agony’ after rushing to bedside of sister left in intensive care after horrific car accident

Britain’s Got Talent judge, who is very close to her sibling, immediately travelled to Cornwall after receiving the shocking news

DISTRAUGHT Amanda Holden was last night keeping a bedside vigil for her sister in intensive care after a car crash.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge dashed from her home to be at diving instructor Debbie Holden’s side after the horror accident.

Last night Debbie, 44, was “critical but stable” in hospital in Cornwall.

 Amanda rushed to sister Debbie's bedside after hearing about the critical car crash
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Amanda rushed to sister Debbie's bedside after hearing about the critical car crashCredit: The Picture Library Ltd.

A source said: “Amanda is in absolute agony. She’s very close to her sister.”

“She immediately travelled to Cornwall to be with Debbie.

“It’s been a very difficult 48 hours and the whole family have been pulling together and trying to keep positive.

“Amanda is very close to her sister. They’re only a year apart and there’s something about them together which is really special. Amanda’s still with her in hospital.”

 The sisters are very close after a difficult childhood with heavy drinking father, Frank
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The sisters are very close after a difficult childhood with heavy drinking father, FrankCredit: London Features International
 The sisters enjoying an evening together at the National Television Awards, 1998
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The sisters enjoying an evening together at the National Television Awards, 1998

Diving instructor Debbie, who is single and does not have any kids, narrowly escaped death in an earthquake in Nepal in April last year.

The car accident happened on Thursday morning.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda 45, had been a guest at Cowell’s boozy 57th birthday bash in London on Wednesday night.

 

 'Free spirit' ... Diving instructor Debbie narrowly escaped death in an earthquake in Nepal last year
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'Free spirit' ... Diving instructor Debbie narrowly escaped death in an earthquake in Nepal last yearCredit: Rex Features

The source said: “She can’t believe this has happened.”

The sisters became close in adulthood after a fractured relationship with their father Frank as kids.

Their dad split from mum Judith in 1976 after six years of marriage on grounds of unreasonable behaviour due to his heavy drinking.

Amanda and Debbie became particularly close in 2012 when the actress and Fabulous magazine columnist nearly died through childbirth complications.

 Amanda Holden (left) age 4 with her mum Judith and sister Debbie age 3
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Amanda Holden (left) age 4 with her mum Judith and sister Debbie age 3
 Sister act ... Amanda (left) with Debbie were very close during childhood and can been seen here in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, in 1974
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Sister act ... Amanda (left) with Debbie were very close during childhood and can been seen here in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, in 1974
 The sisters had a difficult childhood together with a father who drank heavily
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The sisters had a difficult childhood together with a father who drank heavily

In April 2015, “free spirit” Debbie was stranded on Mount Everest when an earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal.

The experienced adventurer had been climbing and was 16,500ft up the peak when the quake struck.

Amanda later struggled to maintain her composure when she interviewed her sister live on ITV’s This Morning and Debbie revealed she had been caught in an aftershock.

 Amanda (right) felt a close bond to her sister Debbie from a very young age
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Amanda (right) felt a close bond to her sister Debbie from a very young age

When Debbie revealed there was no transport in her area, emotional Amanda shouted: “I love you!”

Amanda admitted her family had been concerned about Debbie because she was an “outdoors type”.

 Amanda Holden arrives at Simon Cowell's birthday party on Wednesday night, shortly before hearing about the horrific accident
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Amanda Holden arrives at Simon Cowell's birthday party on Wednesday night, shortly before hearing about the horrific accidentCredit: Fame Flynet

Debbie has been travelling since leaving the UK in January 2000 “with a 50 litre backpack and very rough plan”, according to her blog.

Her work in deep sea diving and underwater photography now sees her split time between Cornwall and Koh Lanta in Thailand.

Last night Debbie was in a criticial but stable condition in intensive care at a Cornwall hospital.

The source added: “Everyone is hopeful she will eventually make a full recovery.

“Thank God, no one else was hurt in the accident. Now we’ve just got to get Debbie through this.”

FAVOURITE'S NEW BLOW

AMANDA has endured some tough times in her life.

In 2003, she went through a divorce from Corrie star Les Dennis, 62 — three years after she had an affair with actor Neil Morrissey.

In 2010, she had a miscarriage when expecting what would have been her second child with record producer husband Chris Hughes, 42.

A year later, tragedy struck again when her son was stillborn after seven months of pregnancy.

In 2012, the actress and presenter almost died in intensive care after giving birth to her second daughter Hollie by Caesarean section.

Afterwards, she vowed to have no more children.

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