Reality television personality Kate Gosselin has shared details of a terrifying incident that occurred during a grocery store visit in New Zealand. The former star of Jon & Kate Plus 8 described how a man attempted to steal a trolley packed with groceries, leading to a chaotic scene that left her shaken.
A Frightening Confrontation During Recovery
In a TikTok video posted by the 50-year-old celebrity, she explained that the would-be thief pushed past her aggressively while she was still in a vulnerable state. Gosselin is currently recovering from a serious leg fracture sustained last September while playing with her dog, an injury that required surgical intervention.
The timing proved particularly distressing as Gosselin had just celebrated walking unassisted in public for the first time in nearly four months only days before the robbery attempt. "He literally pushed past me, almost knocked me down in my lack of walking state," she recounted in the social media clip.
Boyfriend and Bystanders Spring Into Action
Gosselin confirmed that her boyfriend, Steve Neild, along with several other shoppers, immediately intervened to stop the thief. Neild, a former police officer, reportedly "turns right back into a cop on a moment's notice" according to Gosselin's description of his response.
She painted a vivid picture of the community reaction: "You should see all the Kiwi men running after him, trying to stop him. Everybody's on their phone to the police." Gosselin expressed admiration for the collective response, contrasting it with what she suggested might happen elsewhere: "In America, they would have just let him go."
Physical Toll and Recovery Journey
The scuffle resulted in Gosselin being knocked over momentarily, a particularly dangerous situation given her ongoing rehabilitation. Her leg injury, which she has described as "life-altering," has required extensive recovery time. In recent social media updates, she had expressed joy at regaining mobility, noting that her ability to walk had improved dramatically seemingly "overnight."
Despite the frightening experience, Gosselin managed to participate in thwarting the thief's escape, even kicking away his shoe as he fled in an attempt to "slow him down." The perpetrator and an accomplice ultimately escaped in a vehicle, but several bystanders recorded the license plate number for authorities.
Relationship Background and Personal Life
The incident comes amid continued public interest in Gosselin's personal life, particularly her relationship with Neild. The pair first met nearly two decades ago when Neild was hired as her bodyguard during her rise to fame. After years of speculation and denial, their romantic relationship became public knowledge last year.
Gosselin and Neild have now been dating for over a year, with reports suggesting they may be planning a wedding. This development has reignited old controversies with her ex-husband Jon Gosselin, who has made public claims about the timeline of their relationship.
Community Response and Aftermath
Gosselin emphasized the unusual nature of such criminal activity in the New Zealand community where the incident occurred. "It's a big deal here, because honestly, there's not much crime here," she observed in her video account.
The reality star praised the collective effort of bystanders, noting that six to eight people pursued the thief. She concluded her video with shouts of "Good job guys" as several helpful individuals returned shopping carts to the store following the chaotic episode.
While physically unharmed beyond the scare, the experience highlighted the ongoing challenges of Gosselin's recovery journey and provided a startling contrast to her recent celebrations of regained mobility.
