Archive May 6, 2025

‘Two concussions in a month was scary and it’s why I’m retiring’

Ben Lumley

Gabby Marshall was on a spinal board in the back of a West Midlands ambulance when it dawned on her – through the fug of a second concussion in a month – that this might be the injury that would end her sporting career.

On Tuesday morning she made it official.

After three weeks of severe headaches and discombobulating fatigue, the 29-year-old captain of Birmingham Panthers kissed goodbye to her life in netball at a tearful team meeting, concluding there was no other choice she could have made.

It was not how “devastated” Marshall envisaged the first year of Netball Super League’s much-vaunted professional era turning out for her.

Rather this, though, than a worst-case scenario further down the line.

She told BBC Sport: “I dread to think, after a rest period and recovery for this one, if I was to then step on court again and be in the same situation again.

“I dread to think of the symptoms I would have because this one has been quite scary and quite difficult.

“It’s a tricky decision to come to because you never want your career to end like this.”

Marshall was concussed for the first time this season in Birmingham’s opening game against Leeds Rhinos on 14 March.

It left her feeling nauseous for days, but she completed return to play protocols and was feeling fine when she lined up to face leaders London Pulse on 13 April, only for a collision in the third quarter to end her game and ultimately her life as a professional athlete.

Marshall was attempting to catch a pass when she collided with Pulse goalkeeper Darcie Everitt and hit the deck, the back of her head banging against the court at Worcester Arena.

The match was paused for 20 minutes as Marshall was treated and taken away to hospital for checks and a CT scan.

Those showed up clear, but Marshall has endured a dismal time since.

She is seeing a neurological physiotherapist as she looks to lead a normal life again.

“I was quite unwell for the first 10 days or so, not really able to do very much, and I’m not back to normal yet but I’m better than I was,” she said.

She recalls being in the ambulance, helpless.

“You think, ‘oh wow, I’ve just had one particularly big head knock and now the second one’,” said Marshall.

“I’ve got a medical background from studying physiotherapy at university, so I was well aware of the dangers of having two concussions quite close together.

“I’ve had a couple earlier in my career as well, so I was quite aware it’s a very serious injury. I had an MRI yesterday.

“There’s a misconception with concussions where perhaps people think it’s a little bang to the head and you’re going to be OK afterwards.

“Hopefully I do make a full recovery, but this one’s been quite scary.

“There’s been quite a lot of fairly severe headaches, intense pressure in the head, unable to look at any screens, read anything.

The Mancunian, who played at centre and wing defence, is described on her Panthers profile as the team’s “beating heart”.

Previously with Manchester Thunder and Severn Stars, she represented England at youth level.

Injuries to both ankles waylaid her in the past, but not like the concussions.

Athletes in other sports, such as football, rugby, boxing and American football, have suffered long-term damage to the brain through repeated head trauma.

“With this, you’re a bit of a prisoner to your own brain. You can’t read a book, or you can’t go out to a coffee shop because it’s too over-stimulating,” Marshall said.

“That’s the scary nature of this injury and why I’ve come to this decision.

“I told the girls this morning at training and it was quite emotional. I’m devastated.”

What comes next for a woman who had been all in on netball, relishing being at the domestic pinnacle of a sport that has plans for large-scale growth in the next decade?

“I don’t really know,” she said. “I’m sure as one door closes, another will open.”

Marshall doesn’t harbour any ill feeling towards Everitt, who was given a two-minute penalty following the collision.

“I’ve had communication with Darcie since the incident. She was going for the ball and it’s one of those things. It happens,” Marshall said.

Related topics

  • Netball

Ross Kemp’s wild love life – ‘rollercoaster’ marriage and wife who ‘straightened’ him out

Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp might be a well-known face on TV – but he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight. Here’s everything we know about his love life

Ross is the latest star to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

Ross Kemp is back on screens this week, researching his ancestors for the hit series, Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his family life at home? From his rollercoaster first marriage through to the arrival of his four children, we’ve taken a closer look at the EastEnders star’s private life away from the cameras…

Rebekah Wade

Ross met his first wife, Rebekah Wade, at a golf tournament when she was deputy editor of News of the World and he was starring as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. The couple got engaged in 1996, but in 1997 took a brief break ‘due to work pressures’. They soon reunited and, in June 2002, they got married in Las Vegas.

READ MORE: Ross Kemp’s horror over relative who ‘threatened to cut off mum’s head with kitchen knife’

Ross Kemp and then-girlfriend Rebekah Wade in 2000
Ross and then-girlfriend Rebekah in 2000(Image: Press Association)

They encountered a rocky relationship, and Rebekah later revealed that their marriage was a ‘rollercoaster’, with her admitting to having an affair. They separated in 2006 and divorced in March 2009. That same year, Rebekah married racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks.

Speaking about her split from Ross, she said: “I think we were both working incredibly long hours… in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn’t so. I think that’s how he would describe it.”

Renee O’Brien

In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O’Brien, and the couple remains happily married to this day. The family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. But Ross has briefly spoken about his wife in the past.

Article continues below
Ross Kemp and his wife Renee
Ross and Renee have been married since 2012(Image: GC Images)

While discussing his intense filming schedule, the former EastEnders actor revealed his guilt about leaving his family. He told Metro Online: “Guilt, I think that’s part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn’t really know me from my soap days […] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she’s probably right about that today, I’m still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar.”

In an interview on the Plot Twist podcast in 2022, he went into more detail and explained why his marriage has lasted. “Renee’s pretty practical, she’s Australian, she’s a lawyer, she’s very straight. She’d never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn’t really understand that I was doing documentaries,” Ross said.

Ross Kemp and his wife Renee O'Brien
The couple share three children together(Image: FilmMagic)

He also revealed how he misbehaved in the early days of their relationship, but Renee ‘straightened him out’. “I’d just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks,” he admitted.

“I’ve changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there’s a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is ‘quick goodbyes and long hellos’.”

Children

Ross is a proud father of four. After his divorce from his first wife, Rebekah, he welcomed his first child, a boy, with his former partner and makeup artist, Nicole Coleman. He and Renee also share three children together; a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017.

Ross Kemp pictured with his two sons
Ross pictured with his two sons(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Warner Bros)

Speaking to the Mail Online in 2019, Ross said: “I’m very happy I’ve got my children and wouldn’t have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should’ve done.

Article continues below

“I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what’s going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do.”

READ MORE: Dunelm’s ‘striking’ £35 wall art getting ‘lots of compliments’

Ross Kemp’s wild love life – ‘rollercoaster’ marriage and wife who ‘straightened’ him out

Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp might be a well-known face on TV – but he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight. Here’s everything we know about his love life

Ross is the latest star to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

Ross Kemp is back on screens this week, researching his ancestors for the hit series, Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his family life at home? From his rollercoaster first marriage through to the arrival of his four children, we’ve taken a closer look at the EastEnders star’s private life away from the cameras…

Rebekah Wade

Ross met his first wife, Rebekah Wade, at a golf tournament when she was deputy editor of News of the World and he was starring as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. The couple got engaged in 1996, but in 1997 took a brief break ‘due to work pressures’. They soon reunited and, in June 2002, they got married in Las Vegas.

READ MORE: Ross Kemp’s horror over relative who ‘threatened to cut off mum’s head with kitchen knife’

Ross Kemp and then-girlfriend Rebekah Wade in 2000
Ross and then-girlfriend Rebekah in 2000(Image: Press Association)

They encountered a rocky relationship, and Rebekah later revealed that their marriage was a ‘rollercoaster’, with her admitting to having an affair. They separated in 2006 and divorced in March 2009. That same year, Rebekah married racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks.

Speaking about her split from Ross, she said: “I think we were both working incredibly long hours… in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn’t so. I think that’s how he would describe it.”

Renee O’Brien

In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O’Brien, and the couple remains happily married to this day. The family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. But Ross has briefly spoken about his wife in the past.

Article continues below
Ross Kemp and his wife Renee
Ross and Renee have been married since 2012(Image: GC Images)

While discussing his intense filming schedule, the former EastEnders actor revealed his guilt about leaving his family. He told Metro Online: “Guilt, I think that’s part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn’t really know me from my soap days […] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she’s probably right about that today, I’m still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar.”

In an interview on the Plot Twist podcast in 2022, he went into more detail and explained why his marriage has lasted. “Renee’s pretty practical, she’s Australian, she’s a lawyer, she’s very straight. She’d never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn’t really understand that I was doing documentaries,” Ross said.

Ross Kemp and his wife Renee O'Brien
The couple share three children together(Image: FilmMagic)

He also revealed how he misbehaved in the early days of their relationship, but Renee ‘straightened him out’. “I’d just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks,” he admitted.

“I’ve changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there’s a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is ‘quick goodbyes and long hellos’.”

Children

Ross is a proud father of four. After his divorce from his first wife, Rebekah, he welcomed his first child, a boy, with his former partner and makeup artist, Nicole Coleman. He and Renee also share three children together; a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017.

Ross Kemp pictured with his two sons
Ross pictured with his two sons(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Warner Bros)

Speaking to the Mail Online in 2019, Ross said: “I’m very happy I’ve got my children and wouldn’t have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should’ve done.

Article continues below

“I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what’s going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do.”

READ MORE: Dunelm’s ‘striking’ £35 wall art getting ‘lots of compliments’

Molly-Mae’s favourite £62 relaxing bath oil is now 40% off in major beauty sale

Molly-Mae has made no secret of her love for Laura Mercier’s luxurious bath products, and the brand’s iconic bath oil is now on sale with almost 50% off, slashing it from £62

Molly Mae Instagram  WARNING TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION  https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6f3s3IR9Y/?img_index=1
Molly-Mae has previously mentioned her love of Laura Mercier’s bath oil(Image: Instagram)

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a social butterfly or prefer to be a homebody, there’s one thing we can all agree on – nothing compares to a relaxing bubble bath at home. That was certainly the case for Molly-Mae Hague, who decided to swerve last year’s National Television Awards in favour of unwinding in a hot bath at home, instead.

The former Love Island star shared a snap of her luxurious bathtime set up, which featured her favourite products like the Laura Mercier Bath and Body Oil. Whilst Molly-Mae typically prefers the almond and coconut scent, which is reduced from £62 to £52.48 at Sephora, you can also snap up the Neroli Du Sud fragranced one with an even bigger discount, as LookFantastic slashes it down to £37.20.

READ MORE: This sleep-enhancing £43 bath oil just got the King’s official royal seal of approval

READ MORE: This little-known beauty outlet has designer perfumes in ‘imperfect boxes’ from £15

Whichever scent you prefer, both versions of the Bath and Body Oil make a great addition to your bathtime routine, helping create a spa-like experience with plenty of skincare benefits. The Neroli Du Sud option has notes of neroli and lavender, which combined together help to both relax and refresh you.

Molly-Mae regularly includes it in her bathtime routine(Image: Molly-Mae Hague/Instagram)

As well as releasing calming and soothing scents into the air whilst you soak, the oil also helps nourish and hydrate your skin thanks to its plethora of skin-loving ingredients. The Neroli Du Sud oil contains baobab, jojoba and French plum seed oils, which help to brighten and smooth your skin whilst also leaving it feeling silky soft and moisturised without any lingering greasiness for up to 48 hours.

Although you can add them directly to your bath water, where the steam and water will help them work their magic, you can also apply the Bath and Body Oil directly onto your skin afterwards. Simply massage them in after washing to give your skin a boost of hydration and to release their aromatherapeutic benefits.

If neither of these scents sound like your thing, the Olverum Bath Oil (£78) contains a blend of Siberian fir needle, eucalyptus leaf, lemon peel, lavender and rosemary leaf oil for a more masculine, earthy scent – and it just got an official Royal Warrant from King Charles III himself. Alternatively, L’Occitane’s Almond Milky Bath, £29.50, contains sweet almond oil which creates a hydrating, milk formula that hydrates skin and leaves a scent of almond, tonka bean and vanilla.

Laura Mercier bath oil
The Neroil Du Sud is currently 40% off(Image: LookFantastic)

It seems Molly-Mae might be onto something, though, as the Laura Mercier Bath and Body Oil has gotten a fully five star rating from LookFantastic shoppers. One wrote: “The oil is so hydrating and absorbs so quickly. It doesn’t leave a sticky feel! The smell is amazing. A very luxurious body oil.”

Another agreed: “I love the scent and my skin feels so lovely and soft. Perfect for in the bath or after the shower!”

Article continues below

A third called it “luxury in a bottle” before adding: “I’m obsessed with this body oil! I love how nourished it leaves my skin feeling and the smell is amazing. It also leaves the most gorgeous shine.”

Molly-Mae’s favourite £62 relaxing bath oil is now 40% off in major beauty sale

Molly-Mae has made no secret of her love for Laura Mercier’s luxurious bath products, and the brand’s iconic bath oil is now on sale with almost 50% off, slashing it from £62

Molly Mae Instagram  WARNING TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION  https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6f3s3IR9Y/?img_index=1
Molly-Mae has previously mentioned her love of Laura Mercier’s bath oil(Image: Instagram)

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a social butterfly or prefer to be a homebody, there’s one thing we can all agree on – nothing compares to a relaxing bubble bath at home. That was certainly the case for Molly-Mae Hague, who decided to swerve last year’s National Television Awards in favour of unwinding in a hot bath at home, instead.

The former Love Island star shared a snap of her luxurious bathtime set up, which featured her favourite products like the Laura Mercier Bath and Body Oil. Whilst Molly-Mae typically prefers the almond and coconut scent, which is reduced from £62 to £52.48 at Sephora, you can also snap up the Neroli Du Sud fragranced one with an even bigger discount, as LookFantastic slashes it down to £37.20.

READ MORE: This sleep-enhancing £43 bath oil just got the King’s official royal seal of approval

READ MORE: This little-known beauty outlet has designer perfumes in ‘imperfect boxes’ from £15

Whichever scent you prefer, both versions of the Bath and Body Oil make a great addition to your bathtime routine, helping create a spa-like experience with plenty of skincare benefits. The Neroli Du Sud option has notes of neroli and lavender, which combined together help to both relax and refresh you.

Molly-Mae regularly includes it in her bathtime routine(Image: Molly-Mae Hague/Instagram)

As well as releasing calming and soothing scents into the air whilst you soak, the oil also helps nourish and hydrate your skin thanks to its plethora of skin-loving ingredients. The Neroli Du Sud oil contains baobab, jojoba and French plum seed oils, which help to brighten and smooth your skin whilst also leaving it feeling silky soft and moisturised without any lingering greasiness for up to 48 hours.

Although you can add them directly to your bath water, where the steam and water will help them work their magic, you can also apply the Bath and Body Oil directly onto your skin afterwards. Simply massage them in after washing to give your skin a boost of hydration and to release their aromatherapeutic benefits.

If neither of these scents sound like your thing, the Olverum Bath Oil (£78) contains a blend of Siberian fir needle, eucalyptus leaf, lemon peel, lavender and rosemary leaf oil for a more masculine, earthy scent – and it just got an official Royal Warrant from King Charles III himself. Alternatively, L’Occitane’s Almond Milky Bath, £29.50, contains sweet almond oil which creates a hydrating, milk formula that hydrates skin and leaves a scent of almond, tonka bean and vanilla.

Laura Mercier bath oil
The Neroil Du Sud is currently 40% off(Image: LookFantastic)

It seems Molly-Mae might be onto something, though, as the Laura Mercier Bath and Body Oil has gotten a fully five star rating from LookFantastic shoppers. One wrote: “The oil is so hydrating and absorbs so quickly. It doesn’t leave a sticky feel! The smell is amazing. A very luxurious body oil.”

Another agreed: “I love the scent and my skin feels so lovely and soft. Perfect for in the bath or after the shower!”

Article continues below

A third called it “luxury in a bottle” before adding: “I’m obsessed with this body oil! I love how nourished it leaves my skin feeling and the smell is amazing. It also leaves the most gorgeous shine.”

David Beckham’s simple two-ingredient breakfast which helps cholesterol

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and David Beckham has given fans an insight into his go-to meal that helps him start his day right – and it’s something you can make at home

The former footballer shared his go-to healthy breakfast(Image: Getty Images)

David Beckham has just turned 50, but it’s clear the star has been looking after his health over the years. Now the former footballer has shared his simple two-ingredient breakfast, which helps lower cholesterol, and it’s something you can easily make at home.

Ahead of his 50th birthday, Beckham gave fans a glimpse into his health regime, including his favourite breakfast.

He revealed how he kickstarts his day with his daughter Harper and said: “I eat breakfast with my daughter [Harper] every morning before I take her to school. She has a bagel and cream cheese and cucumber and I go for oatmeal and some berries.”

Oats are a superfood packed with fibre, and are proven to help with lowering cholesterol, improving heart health and aiding weight management. According to Mayo Clinic, oats contain beta-glucan content which is a soluble fibre, and is effective at lowering blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

READ MORE: Specific amount of cheese daily may lower heart disease and stroke risk

Oatmeal and berries
David Beckham revealed he eats oatmeal and berries for breakfast (Image: Getty Images/500px Plus)

This reduction can help minimise the risk of heart disease and diabetes. There are many ways to include oats in your diet, but according to Beckham, his favourite way is as oatmeal, which is made by boiling oats in water or milk, and is often referred to as porridge.

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According to Healthline, here is what you need to make oatmeal:

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup (250 ml) water or milk
  • A pinch of salt

Combine ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook the oats, stirring occasionally, until soft.

To make oatmeal tastier and even more nutritious, you can add cinnamon, fruits, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, almond butter, or Greek yoghurt.

READ MORE: Simple kitchen item that prevents bananas from going brown and extends their lifespan

Heart UK revealed that a 40g bowl of rolled oats contains around 3g of fibre. They stated: “Oats are a good source of a soluble fibre called beta-glucan, which gives oats their main health benefits.

Oats also contain some insoluble fibre such as cellulose and lignin, which are important for gut health.”

They also explained how oats are a good source of protein and contain more than most other grains. It means a 40g serving of rolled oats contains 4.8g of protein.

This “typically equates to around 10% of the daily protein needs for most women and 8% for most men, and can be bumped up further by using skimmed or soya milk and topping with chopped nuts,” they added.

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com

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READ MORE: ‘Comfortable’ linen trousers from GAP are a must-have for easy, breezy summer style