EXCLUSIVE Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell made an incredible comeback at the Boat Race, but he’s not the only “invincible” to bounce back
As comeback stories go, the journey from catastrophic brain injury to oldest ever winner of the brutal Boat Race takes some beating.
At 46 years old, James Cracknell did just that when he rowed for victorious Cambridge this year. But in 2010, he nearly died when he was hit by a petrol tanker while cycling across America, and was placed in an induced coma.
The double Olympic gold medallist is not the only “invincible” to bounce back. These are just a few of the incredible people who have overcome adversity to achieve something truly special.
Lee Spencer
Former Royal Marine Lee survived three tours of Afghanistan only to lose his right leg after being hit by flying debris as he was helping a motorist who had crashed on the M3 in Surrey in 2014.
Last month, the 49-year-old became the fastest person to row solo and unsupported across the Atlantic in 60 days – breaking the able-bodied record by 36 days.
Lee, from Devon, says: “I want to show that you don’t have to define people by their disability, and I have done that by beating the able-bodied record.
“It was such an important thing for me to shift society’s perceptions of what it means to be a disabled person.”
Grace Havard
Grace’s injuries were so bad after a 2014 car crash that her family were told: “Don’t hold out hope”.
Aged 21, she broke 28 bones in her body, suffered a punctured lung, split liver, bleeding spleen and failing kidneys, after clipping a kerb at 60mph and hitting oncoming traffic.
She was in an induced coma for a month at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, and had many skin grafts to her arm and thigh.
After being discharged from hospital three months later, she pledged to run the london Marathon. And she did, two years later.
She says: “If I’m ever on my deathbed again, I want to have no regrets.”
Kate Baker
Kate had a brain tumour, known as a haemangioblastoma, which doctors said would have killed her within six hours if it hadn’t been treated.
In 2016, Kate, mum to five-year-old Max, spent six days on Queens Hospital Romford’s ‘Sahara b’ ward, and had a drain in her skull.
In February, the 37-year-old from Colchester spent six days enduring searing heat to trek through the Sahara Desert for The Brain Tumour Charity.
She said: “I left hospital under a rainbow of glittery colours eternally grateful for a second crack at life.”
Simon Kindleyside
As Simon walked night and day to complete his 36-hour record-breaking London Marathon last year, he showed the world that paralysis is no bar to achievement.
The dad of three, from Norfolk, got a Guinness World Record as the first paralysed person to finish the route in an exo-suit, a robotic device.
In 2015, Simon, 35, was diagnosed with a neurological disorder and a glioma brain tumour, and is paralysed from the waist down.
He said: “I hadn’t walked 26 miles in my life when i was able-bodied, so that is a massive achievement in itself.”
James Rose
Soldier James, 31, lost both his legs hen he stepped on a bomb while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in November 2009.
James, from Middlesbrough, nearly ied, and had four years of treatment for injuries including a broken pelvis. He suffered from depression after being discharged from the Army in 014 – but last year he won silver and gold medals in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games.
He said: “I needed to find my mojo again.”
Kiko Matthews
Kiko, 37, from Herefordshire, was diagnosed with Cushings Disease in 2009, a life- hreatening condition which causes tumours on the pituitary gland.
The former science teacher survived two rain tumours and a life-threatening illness to become the fastest-ever woman to row cross the Atlantic, solo and unsupported, last year – completing the epic task in 49 days, seven hours and 15 minutes.
She said: “I have shown that anyone can attempt anything given the right attitude, belief and support.”
Paul Steward
When he was 27, doctors told Paul he would never walk again when an avalanche broke his back in 2008.
With painstaking rehabilitation and the aid of carbon fibre splints and sticks, Paul, from London, completed a full Ironman triathlon, comprising of a 2.4mile swim, 112mile cycle, and a 26.2mile walk, five years later.
He ended the challenge by scaling the 200ft cliff face he fell down at 100mph while skiing in La Plagne, France.
Paul, now 37, said: “What I am most proud of is that I managed to turn a tragic event into a happy one. I have hopefully inspired a few to make life better for themselves.”
Debbie O’Connell
Debbie served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery, but was discharged in 2017 when she was thrown from a horse.
The accident shattered her collarbone, breaking it into four and leaving her with a paralysed left arm.
But after returning to civilian life, the 31-year-old from Lincoln competed in the Invictus Games.
She matched the men’s team success, winning two gold medals for cycling and two silver running medals.
Debbie, who now works as a funeral director, said: “I now have the determination to pick myself up, focus and train again for a good cause – me.”
