Former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher was physically assaulted by a masked stranger in central London on Tuesday evening. The 49-year-old television host was walking from work to her car around 7 PM when a man dressed in black approached and "kicked me like he was kicking a football" before fleeing the scene.
Gallacher shared details of the unprovoked attack on social media, revealing she sustained visible bruises from being kicked "in the middle of a street at about seven o'clock last night, in front of people." The incident occurred on a well-lit street with witnesses present, including some who came to her aid. However, a nearby security guard failed to intervene, which Gallacher described as "hugely disappointing."
The presenter decided to speak publicly about the assault to raise awareness about street violence. "That is not okay. It's not okay, it's not okay," Gallacher said in her social media post. She emphasized that despite being vigilant and taking precautions during her regular commute, the attack still happened, adding: "I was just going about my business as you do. I was just walking to my car to go back home to my family."
Industry Support
Fellow broadcasters quickly offered messages of support. Bianca Westwood, a former Sky Sports regular, responded: "So sorry this happened to you. It's very frightening. Sending love," while Formula One presenter Rachel Brookes wrote: "So sorry to hear this Kirsty. Hope you are ok."
Gallacher began her broadcasting career with Sky Sports in the late 1990s and returned as a Sky Sports News presenter from 2011 to 2018. She has also worked with ITV, Channel 4, and more recently GB News. Separately, she is currently preparing for radiotherapy treatment in November for a benign acoustic neuroma, a tumor near her brain.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
