The ITN journalist and newsreader Carol Barnes, is fighting for her life after suffering a massive stoke last night.

 The 63 year old was taken seriously ill and rushed to Royal Sussex Hospital near her Brighton home, where her family are said to be keeping a vigil by her bedside.

Miss Barnes friend said “Carol is still with us at the moment but she is unconscious and fighting for her life as we speak.  We have been told that the doctors treating her are doing everything they can, but they don’t think she will pull through.”

In 2004 Miss Barnes daughter was tragically killed in a horrific sky-diving accident In Melbourne where she had been living for only eight months with her boyfriend.  Her parachute malfunctioned at 14,000 feet and the young woman plummeted to the ground. Miss Barnes said in 2005 that after her daughter had died “a big part of me still doesn’t accept that she is dead.”