EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy says she was on verge of 'nervous breakdown' after daughter, 9, rushed to hospital

Natalie Cassidy has revealed her nine-year-old daughter Joanie was rushed to hospital after suffering a third broken arm following an accident at school.

The 43-year-old, who plays Sonia Fowler on BBC Eastenders shared the distressing news on her podcast Life With Nat, explaining that Joanie slipped in the hallway before her PE lesson.

The youngster, whom Ms Cassidy shares with fiancé Marc Humphreys, was taken to A&E where medical staff discovered her bones had been left "in pieces" from the fall.

The incident occurred just eight weeks after Joanie had undergone surgery to remove metal plates from a previous break.

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Ms Cassidy admitted the ordeal left her feeling as though she was on the verge of a "nervous breakdown" as she opened up about her emotional state.

"I felt I was going to have a nervous breakdown, actually.

"I'm being really honest here. I really fell to pieces. I was not in a good place," the actress said on her podcast.

The mother-of-two explained that watching her youngest daughter endure repeated medical procedures had taken its toll, describing the situation as deeply traumatic.

"Just her little body and the medication and the trauma of it all," Ms Cassidy added.

On her podcast, Ms Cassidy described how the family had been preparing for a relaxing few days at home when the devastating phone call came through.

"I'd done a little bit of work in the morning at home.

"Marc went outside, put the paddling pool up, cut all the grass thinking we're going to have a few days, like a mini holiday, at home," she recalled.

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"Then the phone rang. She slipped over in the hall, before doing PE. I'm speechless. It's so traumatic."

The actress explained that Joanie's first break had been clean, but a subsequent injury required metal plates to be inserted, which were only removed under general anaesthetic eight weeks before this latest accident.

Ms Cassidy revealed she had worried her daughter might have "some sort of deficiency" given the repeated injuries, prompting medical investigations.

However, blood tests came back showing everything was within normal range, with the consultant concluding it was simply a case of terrible luck.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the actress praised the NHS staff who cared for Joanie during her stay.

"The hospital was quite warm for the few days we were in there.

"The staff, they're not moaning, they're laughing, they're joking. Just wonderful, wonderful people," she said.

Ms Cassidy joked that the family had become so familiar with the hospital it now felt "like being in a hotel".

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