Celebrity SAS: Ulrika Jonsson, 54, is forced to withdraw on medical grounds

Ulrika Jonsson was forced to withdraw from Celebrity SAS on Sunday night after medical experts stepped in. 

The weather presenter, 54, had struggled to recover after getting mild hypothermia on the first challenge which saw the stars have to swim ashore and run up the mountainous terrain in Scotland with rucksacks on their back. 

And after a muddy wrestling competition, Chief Medical Expert Sundeep Chohan pulled an ‘exhausted’ Ulrika aside to say she could no longer take part for safety reasons. 

Out: Ulrika Jonsson was forced to withdraw from Celebrity SAS on Sunday night after medical experts stepped in

He told her: ‘The thing is you’re a fighter. You still have that warrior spirit in you where you’re just going to plod on regardless. 

‘But now it’s becoming a safety issue so medically I’m going to be withdrawing you.’

Following the news, Ant Middleton came in to reassure her it was the right decision to step down. 

Tough: The weather presenter, 54, had struggled to recover after getting mild hypothermia on the first challenge

‘Obviously there’s criteria’s where we can’t push you from a safety point of view but you just kept on going and going,’ he said.

‘That’s the worry about it is that you would just keep on going until the point it wasn’t safe for you but you’ve been amazing.’  

A pre-recorded video tape of Ulrika then played. She said: ‘I would be so thrilled if I could have some sense of achievement at the end of this that I’ve been able to come out the other side, hopefully not too broken.’ 

Safety first: And after a muddy wrestling competition, Chief Medical Expert Sundeep Chohan pulled an ‘exhausted’ Ulrika aside to say she could no longer take part

Sweet: Following the news Ant Middleton came in to reassure her it was the right decision for her to step down

Viewers watched Ulrika, who weighs 7.5st, struggle during training- particularly when it came to meeting the physical demands of the course. 

After the first task, the television personality was taken into an ambulance experiencing symptoms of mild hyperthermia. 

The presenter also suffers from arthritis in both her hips and suffers problems in her lower back.  

Wrestling match: Viewers watched Ulrika, who weighs 7.5st, struggle during training- particularly when it came to meeting the physical demands of the course

Worries: While Ulrika managed well with a ‘save the hostage’ scenario, the staff grew concerned as she struggled to keep up with the rest of the group

While Ulrika managed well with a ‘save the hostage’ scenario, the staff grew concerned as she struggled to keep up with the rest of the group during runs across the Scottish highlands.   

She became the second celebrity to leave the competition after Kerry Katona handed in her number. 

The Atomic Kitten star, 41, handed over her number after struggling to complete 50 press-ups during a roasting. 

Celebrity SAS continues on Channel 4 on Monday at 9pm.  

Distraught: Ulrika became the second celebrity to leave the competition after Kerry Katona (pictured) handed in her number