EastEnders star 'lucky to be alive'

EastEnders star Kim Medcalf showed she was on the road to recovery today as she left hospital in a wheelchair.

The 28-year-old actress - who plays Sam Butcher in the BBC1 soap - said: ‘‘I’m lucky to be alive.’’

Medcalf had to be cut from the wreckage of her car after a horrific smash in France just under a fortnight ago.

She was helped from London’s King Edward VII Hospital by boyfriend Sam Grant, who was driving the Toyota Yaris.

She said: ‘‘It was horrific, it was awful and I think I’m very lucky to be alive. I think my car saved me in a way.

‘‘It’s just a solid car. I saw the photographs afterwards and it shocked me as much as everyone else. I think I’m lucky.’’

The actress, wearing a pink top and grey jogging pants, had her right arm strapped up and has a broken leg. Facially, her only blemish was the remains of a black eye.

‘‘I had a big lip and eye before and I looked really beautiful,’’ she joked.

The actress used crutches to get into a waiting Lexus car after a five-night spell at the central London hospital.

Other famous faces who have stayed at the 400-a-night facility include the Duchess of Wessex and the late Princess Margaret.

Medcalf said: ‘‘I feel much better and I’d like to say thank you to everyone who sent their support. It’s made everything a lot easier.’’

She said she was looking forward to ‘‘being home and watching some good British telly’’. She is expected to be off work for a further three weeks as she recuperates.

She said she was not suffering from nightmares about the incident.

‘‘I’m just fine and it’s just good to talk and I’ve had all my family and friends around. I want to get over it and move on,’’ she added.

The actress was heading to Italy on holiday when the accident happened near St Omer, in the Calais area.

Grant said today he was looking forward to having her home: ‘‘It’s fantastic and we’re looking forward to getting back to a bit of normality.’’