The Yorkshire Vet’ Star Faces Tough Battle Returning to Channel 5 After ‘Life-Changing’ Surgery
The Yorkshire Vet star Julian Norton has faced a tough road to recovery after sustaining “life-changing” injuries in a severe cycling accident. Following a six-week recovery, Julian returned to the clinic in a recent episode, determined to resume his role despite significant challenges. His comeback was anything but easy, as he navigated his duties with a knee brace and crutches, having suffered a complete patella ligament tear after a fall in Kilburn, via the Express.
The accident, which left him unable to stand, required a swift response from Mountain Rescue, who rushed Julian to Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, where he underwent surgery. With his knee injury keeping him off his feet, the beloved vet spent weeks regaining strength, ultimately relying on crutches to regain mobility. Reflecting on his return to work, Julian remarked, “It’s been six weeks since I’ve been operating; it’s been long enough to forget.”
On his first day back, Julian attempted surgery on a French bulldog named Vera, who had a life-threatening abscess, reports Leeds Live. During the procedure, Julian’s colleague Lucy, overjoyed to have him back, expressed her relief, saying, “I have missed you. It’s lovely to have him back; we get on like a house on fire.” However, as blood quickly soaked his scrubs, Julian admitted feeling “rusty” and uncertain about the best way to clean up, yet he was acutely aware of the urgency. He acknowledged, “Without this intervention, the dog would have succumbed to certain death if the abscess had burst internally.”
Julian candidly admitted that his leg was “hurting” and he felt “quite tired” after the surgery, but his resilience shone through. “It feels good to be back; I think this is my place,” he said optimistically, adding, “Apart from a rather challenging surgery, it seems I’ve still got it.”
His return marks a hopeful step forward, especially after revealing in last week’s episode that his slow-paced recovery had made him feel like he was in “semi-retirement.” Adjusting to a gentler pace, he joked, “Making two cups of tea and a cup of coffee is quite a busy morning for me.”
The episode also took a somber turn when Julian and his team had to make the difficult decision to euthanize a mother cow who had recently calved. The cow suffered an agonizing leg dislocation that pain relief could not alleviate, underscoring the emotional and physical demands of Julian’s work.
Julian’s return is a testament to his commitment and passion, embodying his resilience and determination to continue serving the animals that rely on him, despite the setbacks.