Ashley Judd, 52, ‘could’ve died’ following her devastating fall in Africa

Ashley Judd ‘could have died’ following her devastating fall in Africa last month.

The 52-year-old actress shattered her leg when she tripped over a tree while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February, and on Thursday’s episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Ashley’s mother Naomi Judd revealed just how life-threatening her daughter’s injuries were.

Naomi explained that Ashley was getting her stitches out the day after the interview was filmed, but said her daughter is currently still struggling to ‘get out of bed’.

She added: ‘It was very serious – she could’ve died. She’s surviving. She’s very courageous. She can’t get out of bed [yet].’

Naomi’s comments come after she also explained last week that while Ashley was ‘healing,’ it was ‘really hard to see her’ in her condition.

And Ashley herself recently said she’s still in ‘savage agony’ as she continues to recover from her injuries.

She wrote on social media: ‘I do not understand why what has happened has happened. I do understand I have been loved and helped enormously. I understand nights are a savage agony.

‘I want to thank Dr Phil Kregor & @hughstonclinic & @todd_rubin_md for seven hours of intensive, brilliant, inspired surgical work on my bones and nerve. 

‘It took stamina, focus, and humility to consult with some experts around the country, whom I also deeply thank (especially SMc). Everyone at Skyline Hospital, thank you for the shelter. I loved the sweet spirit of the janitor who cleaned my room, my bright-spot-of-the-day-gal from nutrition, and always, my consummate and tender nurses.’

Ashley went on to thank her friends and family who have rushed to her aid following her injury, including her sister Wynonna, whom she previously credited with helping to wash her hair.

She continued: ‘Now, I am in the bosom of a stream of friends and family, too numerous to mention, who have caught me in their soft arms from this precipitous fall. 

‘They do for me what I cannot do for myself – prepare meals, shampoo my hair, and they also offer the deep spiritual direction and consolation of trying to begin to craft an arc of meaning and purpose. They also offer and meet my need for quiet. I am lost and they are my shepherd’s staff. (sic)’