Helen Skelton recalls giving birth without her husband in unearthed interview amid shock split

Helen Skelton has recalled giving birth to her second son on the kitchen floor without her husband by her side in an unearthed interview.

The presenter, 38, recently announced that she and partner Richie Myler had split after eight years of marriage and that he had ‘left the family home’.

And speaking to The Mirror three years prior to the shock break-up, Helen told how her rugby player ex, 31, wasn’t with her as she went into labour with son Louis while living in France, explaining: ‘No one made it to me in time.’

Helen and Richie, along with their eldest child Ernie, relocated to Perpignan, France in September 2015 after the sportsman changed teams to the Catalan Dragons.

The star went into labour while Richie was away in England, with Helen left to rely on firemen who had arrived but had no experience of delivering a baby, alongside two of Richie’s teammates wives. 

Detailing Louis’ 2017 birth as one of the ‘scariest’ things she’s ever endured, Helen said: ‘I was in France and my husband was in England, and no one made it to me in time.

Experience: Speaking prior to their split, Helen told how her rugby player ex wasn’t with her as she went into labour with son Louis while living in France, explaining: ‘No one made it to me in time’ [pictured with Richie and sons Louis and Ernie]

‘So I gave birth with just my three-year-old next to me, repeatedly hitting me on the head with a plastic sword, because he thought we were playing dinosaurs.’

She added: ‘Terrifying. But I didn’t have a choice, I just had to get on with it.’ 

The couple returned home to the UK just a few months after the birth in June, when Richie signed a three-year deal with Leeds Rhinos. 

Helen announced she and Richie’s split via Instagram on Monday, just four months after welcoming their third child, Elsie Kate.

Oh no: The star went into labour while Richie was away in England, with Helen left to rely on firemen who had arrived but had no experience of delivering a baby, alongside two of Richie’s teammates wives

In the statement posted to her 281k followers, the TV personality said that her husband had ‘left the family home’.

She wrote: ‘Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co parent our small children.’

Just hours after the statement on Monday, Helen was spotted out with her daughter Elsie – without her wedding ring.

Helen and the rugby player tied the knot in December 2013 after meeting two years earlier. 

Split: Helen announced she and Richie’s split via Instagram on Monday – admitting that he has ‘left the family home’

Missing: Just hours after the statement on Monday, Helen was spotted out with her daughter Elsie – without her wedding ring

Gone: In the statement posted to her 281k followers, the TV personality said that her husband had ‘left the family home’ (pictured in 2018)

They went on to welcome three children; Ernie, six, Louis, five, and four-month-old Elsie – residing in Leeds.

The last photo of she shared with her husband was in February, with the couple looking cosy in a sweet selfie ahead of Valentine’s Day. 

It comes after Helen jetted to Lanzarote’s Dorada Beach alone with her three children during last week’s Easter break, just days before announcing a shock split from her husband Richie.

The TV presenter had only given birth to their third child in December last year and showed off her incredible post-baby body in a black two-piece, while poignantly noting that it’s not a holiday for her since she has three little ones to look after.

Getting away from it all: Helen was forced to go on holiday alone, where she looked after her three children just days before announcing a split from her husband Richie

Façade: Alongside the stunning poolside snap, she wrote: ‘In reality in a pool. On telly in a lambing shed. @onthefarmc5 8pm this eve’

Meanwhile the rugby player shared a photo of himself during a training session in Leeds, with the caption, ‘Light at the end of the tunnel.’

In her bikini snap caption, the former CBBC star asked fans to ‘excuse her misshapen bits’, adding that it came as a result of her babies. 

Alongside the stunning poolside snap, she wrote: ‘In reality in a pool. On telly in a lambing shed. @onthefarmc5 8pm this eve ❤️❤️ (Excuse the misshapen bits that’s what babies do to you) #holidays #lambing #spring #holidays #poolday #bikini #easterbreak #familytime.’ 

She penned: ‘Vacay vibes …. 3 month old napping. 6 year old footballing. 5 year old needing mum. It’s a holiday [serious, playful, heart-eyed emojis] ☀️#holidays #needed #goodfriday #thesearethedays.’ 

Busy: Meanwhile the rugby player, 31, shared a photo of himself during a training session, while sharing the caption, ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’

At the same time Helen was posting holiday snaps, Richie shared a photo of himself in a training session for Leeds Rhinos a week ago with the caption: ‘Light at the end of the tunnel.’

The rugby star was referencing his return to the pitch after weeks out of action with an injury. The England international tore his abductor muscle in the opening minutes of his club Leeds Rhinos first game of the season against Warrington Wolves in February. 

Helen appeared to be blindsided by the split as just days after the holiday photos, she confirmed the end of her eight-year marriage to Richie, revealing the news on Instagram Stories on Monday evening. 

So sad: Helen and the rugby player tied the knot in 2013. They went on to welcome three children; Ernie, six, Louis, five, and four-month-old Elsie Kate

Helen and the rugby player tied the knot in December 2013 after meeting two years earlier when Richie was just 21. They went on to welcome three children; Ernie, six, Louis, five, and four-month-old Elsie Kate and share a home together in Leeds.

Helen’s split reveal came just hours after she shared a post about the stresses of motherhood, alluding to her personal issues.

It read: ‘A mama is always full of emotions, full of love, full of anxiety and worries, full of exhaustion and lack of energy, full of mum guilt and doubt, full of pride in her kids, full of pure joy.

‘She feels it all, that’s the beauty of her, she carries it all too, and yet she gets up every day and does it all over again.

Long term love: Helen and Richie met in 2011 when the rugby star was just 21. They tied knot two years later in the former Blue Peter star’s childhood village, near Penrith