Maura Higgins reveals she 'ended up in hospital' and 'couldn't breathe due to swelling' after painful rib injury - as she reflects on her hardest week in DWTS and tearful rehearsals

Maura Higgins has revealed she ended up in hospital after the swelling from her rib injury became so bad she couldn't breathe. 

The TV personality, 35, has secured a place in the Dancing With The Stars semi-final next week after pushing through a painful rib injury during her Argentine tango on Tuesday night. 

And now the star has admitted it was 'a traumatic week' and she really struggled, but confirmed her rib is not cracked. 

'It was quite traumatic week. I'm not gonna lie. Like we lost so much rehearsal time,' she said.  

'I ended up in the hospital. I couldn't really breathe. The swelling was so bad. But I didn't want to give up. I didn't want to throw the towel in. And I literally was like, I need to fight through this. 

'I'm just glad I'm still here. And I'm feeling so much better now.'

Asked if she got an X-ray, Maura told Entertainment Tonight: 'I did. There's no crack. However, with like any muscle damage or cartilage damage, it would feel the exact same, and it's the same treatment. You kind of just have to let it heal.'

During the judges comments on Tuesday, Carrie Ann Inaba called Maura a 'warrior'. 

And getting emotional, Maura reflected: 'That comment meant so much for me. It kind of made me a bit emotional because obviously it's hard. 

'Like people can't see pain, and I was struggling so much this week. So just having you know someone comment on it and actually understand it, it warmed my heart.' 

In Tuesday's training video clip Maura let out a cry as she held her rib and she told Mark: 'Last week I had not the best week, and now that I'm feeling better, there's something going on with my rib. When I'm being lifted, I can hear it pop.'

She tried to carry on but ended up in so much pain a medic was called in as Maura sat in a chair and choked back tears before they suggested an X-ray.

But the setback wasn't enough to keep her down, as the Irish star managed to bag three nines for her routine with partner Mark Ballas, earning them a score of 27.

Maura looked incredible as she performed in a black sheer body with lace detailing across the top and skirt, while her hair was worn in a sleek up do. 

Judge Bruno Tonioli said the routine looked 'expensive and high class' as he branded her style 'sensual and elegant' before awarding her nine points.

Meanwhile,  Carrie Ann Inaba described Maura as 'graceful and a warrior' to dance with her injury, adding: 'For me, that was a work of art.'

Finally, Derek Hough said their routine was 'sultry, seductive and slinky' before complimenting her leg lines and lunges, saying: 'I tried that last move and it's hard, that was so impressive.'

While talking to host Julianne Hough in the skybox, Maura said she was feeling 'so much better'.

Her second routine was a Cha Cha to All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow where the dancing pair faced Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

Maura and Mark came out on top and received an additional two points, taking their final score to 29 and landing them in fourth place on the leaderboard.

The previous week, Maura had been bottom of the leaderboard and narrowly avoided elimination.

Afterwards, she revealed she was feeling 'really unwell' to complete a 'tough' week of training.

She made it to the quarter-finals despite admitting she found the Jive to be 'hell'.