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Triathlete Claire Danson opens up on being paralysed in cycling accident

Sports Staff
Claire Danson/Instagram
Claire Danson/Instagram

Triathlete Claire Danson has revealed she is paralysed after being involved a cycling accident in August.

Danson, the younger sister of Great Britain and England hockey player Alex, suffered a catalogue of horrific injuries, including a complete severing of her spinal cord, in a collision with a tractor less than three months after winning gold in the 30-34 age category at the European Championships.

She revealed the extent of her injuries in a post on Instagram, saying she wanted to “help educate others” about spinal injuries.

She wrote: “It has taken me a while to write this but now I am ready to share my story of the incident that has changed my life forever; a story of going from European champion at triathlon to life in a wheelchair.

“On the 28th August I had a collision with a tractor whilst riding my bike. I suffered 2 punctured lungs, broke a finger, both wrists, the head of my humerus and both shoulders. I also fractured all the bones in my neck including a break to one and had multiple fractures and breaks to every one of my ribs. I have had quite a few surgeries to sort all this and now have a large amount of metal in me. All of this will heal fully.

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. It has taken me a while to write this but now I am ready to share my story of the incident that has changed my life for ever; a story of going from European champion at triathlon to life in a wheelchair . On the 28th August I had a collision with a tractor whilst riding my bike. I suffered 2 punctured lungs, broke a finger, both wrists, the head of my humerus and both shoulders. I also fractured all the bones in my neck including a break to one and had multiple fractures and breaks to every one of my ribs. I have had quite a few surgeries to sort all this and now have a large amount of metal in me. All of this will heal fully . Unfortunately I also suffered a complete sever to my spinal cord at T9. This means that I am paralysed from my belly button downwards. This is of course not something that will heal. Whilst I still have hard moments I have accepted the situation I am now in and won’t be letting it stop me do anything that I want to (including triathlon!) . Now you have this info all I ask is for you to remember that I am still exactly the same person. I still have crazy hair and a mad laugh, I am still the clumsiest person you have met and I will still tell the most long winded yet entertaining stories. So please treat me as the same old Claire. Nothing has changed there . Having decided to share my story with you including all the highs and the lows I would like you to follow me and I would like you to learn all about spinal injuries with me. This world is so new to me I want to help educate others as to what it is like and what it involves . Please help me to get this to as many people as possible by reposting and asking people to follow me . Thank you to the amazing sports people who have already been in contact. Claire xxx . @willgreenwood @jessicaennishill @holliewebb11 @claire80lomas @beckadlington @therealyarnold @chemmyski @maddiehinch @maxwhitlock @philipneville18 @lucybronze @emmawiggs @smithy04 @ajt_29 @petereed @dinaashersmith @alistair.brownlee

A post shared by Claire Danson (@cdanson10) on Oct 20, 2019 at 12:33pm PDT

“Unfortunately I also suffered a complete sever to my spinal cord at T9. This means that I am paralysed from my belly button downwards. This is of course not something that will heal. Whilst I still have hard moments I have accepted the situation I am now in and won’t be letting it stop me do anything that I want to (including triathlon!).”

But Danson emphasised she was “still exactly the same person” and wanted to be treated as “the same old Claire”.

“I still have crazy hair and a mad laugh,” she said. “I am still the clumsiest person you have met and I will still tell the most long winded yet entertaining stories.

“Having decided to share my story with you including all the highs and the lows I would like you to follow me and I would like you to learn all about spinal injuries with me. This world is so new to me I want to help educate others as to what it is like and what it involves.”

Her sister Alex, an Olympic gold medallist, paid tribute to Claire on Twitter, describing her as “the most resilient, hard working and inspiring person you will ever meet”.

She added: “Having already overcome many challenges in her life before, I know she will reign a champion of this one too.

“I don’t know why this has happened, sometimes I hate the world, but I keep hearing something in the back of my head.....’Claire Danson you are going to change the world’.”

PA