Jack McCooke, from Angel in north London, is preparing to run the Shoreditch Half Marathon nearly two years after a skiing accident left him with a fractured neck and a second injury forced him to learn to walk again.
McCooke was skiing in Val d’Isère, France, on April 11, 2024, when he went flying over a lip in the snow and landed badly on his neck. Despite being in considerable pain afterwards, he believed he had suffered severe whiplash and did not seek immediate medical attention.
A sneeze revealed the serious injury
Two days later, while sitting at his desk, McCooke sneezed and experienced a shooting pain through his neck before passing out.
He was taken to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, where doctors quickly discovered that he had fractured a vertebra in his neck. The fracture was reportedly pressing into his nervous system.
McCooke said doctors were shocked that he had managed to remain standing after the accident.
The diagnosis began months of physiotherapy as he worked to regain movement, manage pain and rebuild his independence.
Another accident brought a painful setback
In September 2024, just as he was beginning to recover, McCooke fell down a flight of stairs and ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The knee injury required reconstructive surgery, but he had to wait until February 2025 for the procedure. Another three months of recovery followed.
After spending five months on crutches and six weeks in a leg immobiliser, McCooke said he had to “basically learn to walk again”.
Turning a difficult recovery into hope
McCooke was finally able to run again in September 2025. He is now training for the Shoreditch Half Marathon on September 20 while continuing strength exercises and physiotherapy.
Although he still experiences pain from jolting movements and bumpy journeys, he wants others facing lengthy recoveries to remain hopeful.
“There is light. Don’t give up hope,” he said.