The TV presenter said she was kicked ‘like a football’ by a stranger in the incident in central London on Tuesday evening.
Presenter Kirsty Gallacher has been flooded with well wishes from famous friends after she was kicked like a “football” by a stranger in central London.
The former Sky Sports News presenter said a man dressed “all in black, covered up” walked towards her before physically assaulting her “in the middle of the street” at around 7pm on Tuesday.
She said she had been walking to her car on her way home from work when he approached, and the man “scarpered” after the attack.
Famous friends rushed to offer support, with The Traitors star Kate Garraway replying: “This is awful – am so sorry – very brave in sharing such an important message but hope YOU are ok?”
This Morning’s Ben Shephard wrote: “Kirsty so so sorry to hear this. Sending tons of love and support.”
Boxer Carl Froch said: “Disgraceful! Wish I was there, he can’t run when he’s been rendered unconscious.
“When @antmiddleton becomes Mayor the streets of London will be much safer. Until then please be extra cautious & I hope you’re feeling better now x.”
Gallacher said some girls came to help her but she was disappointed by a security guard manning a door nearby who “was absolutely useless”, the presenter on Global’s Gold Radio Drive added.
Gallacher appeared tearful during the Instagram video posted on Wednesday evening, saying: “Last night I was physically assaulted in the streets of central London, walking from work to my car – the walk I do most nights.
“The streets were lit, there were people around, I was walking on the pavement and I noticed this guy all in black covered up, just walking at me, and I’m always vigilant, and he was just walking towards me and I thought this is not right, so I moved out of the way.
“Then he brushed past me, he turned around and he kicked me – like he was kicking a football – he kicked me in the middle of a street at about seven o’clock last night in front of people, I turned around and he scarpered.
“I’m still shocked now, and I have the bruises to prove it I’m afraid, I can’t quite believe what happened – I was not being provocative in any way, I was just going about my business.”
Gallacher said she is “very vigilant” when out – wearing a cross-body bag and “not holding anything out” – and said “I couldn’t have done more to protect myself”.
She added: “Still that happened to me, someone decided to give me a good kicking in the street.
“I just stood there and I just couldn’t actually believe that someone, a stranger, has just decided for whatever reason – whether he’s got a problem with women, whether he’s just an opportunist – he decided he did not like me and he just thought nah, I’ll give you the boot.
“You always think it’s not going to happen to me, and that was me.
“It’s really sad that that is what’s going on on the streets of London, and that is very real, and we all hear about it don’t we?
“We all hear like, oh yeah, you know, be careful, don’t have your phone out and people being sadly mugged or worse – awful, awful things going on.”
She added: “This is happening all the time, and it’s not good, and it’s not alright, and I want you to really be careful and vigilant and look after yourselves, and look after those around you.”
TV presenter Lisa Snowdon wrote in response: “Oh Kirsty I’m so angry and so utterly devastated that this happened to you. It’s horrific. I’m sending you a huge hug my love.”
Jenni Falconer added: “Kirsty, this is awful. I’m so sorry you experienced this. And not okay. Big love to you.”
