Amy Purdy joined the Dancing With The Stars injured list Monday after sustaining a shoulder injury while dancing with partner Derek Hough.
At the start of Monday’s show, Purdy and pro partner Hough were happy to learn they were safe from elimination.
Their first routine was a 36-out-of-40-point rumba which – not surprisingly – earned high praise from the judges for their rendition of Light My Fire by The Doors.
“Right after judging, I turned my head and my back cracked and it just seized up,” Purdy, 34, told Erin Andrews in a backstage interview. “Everything’s really painful right now. It’s hard to breathe.”
The pair were unable to perform in the group dance routine with their team once everyone realized the 34-year-old snowboarder needed further medical attention at the hospital.
The judges decided to use Purdy and Hough’s dress rehearsal dance to judge the final routine.
“We just hope the best for her and hope she’s back soon,” teammate Meryl Davis said on the show.
Purdy tweeted about having to leave early:
Sorry we couldn't do our live performance tonight #TeamLoca, but we kicked ass in rehearsal! #PurdyHough #DWTS @DancingABC
— Amy Purdy (@AmyPurdyGurl) April 29, 2014
She also sent NeNe Leakes some encouragement after he was eliminated during Monday’s competition.
I'm SO sad you're leaving @NeNeLeakes! Love you & your family so much, it's been awesome dancing w/ you #DWTS @DancingABC #PurdyHough
— Amy Purdy (@AmyPurdyGurl) April 29, 2014
And the paralympian gave a final update to fans:
Thank you all for the support & well wishes, what a night! I'll update you tomorrow, time for me to get some rest #PurdyHough
— Amy Purdy (@AmyPurdyGurl) April 29, 2014
Purdy is the third dancer to be injured this season. Danica McKellar returned to DWTS Monday after sustaining a broken rib last week, and Billie Dee Williams had to withdraw from the competition with a chronic back issue.
Amy Purdy Rushed To Hospital Following DWTS Performance – http://t.co/RdPryW9ASF pic.twitter.com/sNP916rnoc
— Gossips RTNews (@GossipsRTNews) April 29, 2014
No word yet when – and if – Purdy will return to the dance floor.
Here’s the dance routine that led to her injury.
Image via YouTube