TOWIE star Jon Clarke was really skating on thin ice when he injured himself at an ice rink and had to be taken to hospital.

The 26-year-old reality TV star is understood to have suffered a head injury while filming for the Towie Christmas special at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre in Victoria Road, Chelmsford.

He's thought to have been skating with other cast members when he slipped and hurt himself on Thursday.

Clarke, who was also runner-up on ITV's dating show Love Island last year, was snapped by an onlooker being taken away on a stretcher by paramedics.

Towie fan Lauren Booty, 21, was eating lunch in her car outside when she saw him being carried out of the leisure centre.

She said: "I was sitting in the car park eating some fish and chips and scrolling through Snapchat when I saw a post from him saying he'd hurt himself.

"He said he was on gas and air and that he'd been filming for the Towie Christmas special.

"I saw an ambulance pull up and that's when I realised he was inside the leisure centre.

"The next thing I knew, they were bringing him out on a stretcher. I put two and two together, I don't think I would have known it was him otherwise."

Towie co-star Chloe Meadows also posted a picture of Clarke on Instagram, with the caption "this is what happens with Jon clarke falls over on the ice".

In the snap, he can be seen sitting on a bench with a metal bowl to his side, as a paramedic crouches beside him.

He appears to have been having his blood pressure taken at the time and has an oxygen reader pegged to his right index finger.

Lauren, who teaches martial arts, added: "I hope he updates us with how he is on Snapchat.

"I'm a bit of a fan so I wanted to get out of the car and go and say 'hello' but I didn't think it was the right moment.

"He was laughing with the paramedics though so I don't think he was too badly injured, which is a relief."

After arriving at Broomfield Hospital, Essex, Clarke updated fans by posting on Instagram.

Taking a selfie of himself wearing a hospital gown and propped up in bed, he posed with his hand on his head and the caption "ffs".

It was clear from his wrist he had been admitted to a ward as he donned an identification band on his right arm.

However, he failed to give any further explanation of how he'd injured himself, simply appearing to look sorry for himself.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 1.17pm to a man believed to be in his 20s with a head injury.

"We sent a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance.

"The patient was assisted at the scene and taken to Broomfield Hospital for extra checks."

Clarke has been dating 19-year-old make-up artist Charlotte Elise Fox since early September.

He has been treating her to swanky dates around her home city of Manchester as well as showing her off back in his home county of Essex.

It's not known if Charlotte will be making any appearances in Towie, which started its eighteenth series last month.

Speaking last month, Clarke said: "I want a girl who wants to watch David Attenborough on a Sunday, who likes animals and classical music and who wants to go to the Albert Hall with me."

"I'm ready to settle down. I want a girlfriend."

The blue eyed star has also allegedly seen sneaking in to Gemma Collins' house late at night, where she is said to have cooked him dinner.

Clark's agent and the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre have been approached for comment.