In January 2020, experienced skier, Ian, was enjoying the slopes in Austria when a devastating accident changed everything in an instant. After eight days in hospital – and an anxious wait to rule out brain damage – he was finally able to return home.
Wanting to make sure his recovery stayed on track, Ian booked a routine check-up with his GP. It felt like a sensible next step. In reality, it was a decision that would go on to save his life.
“I’ve skied all my life – more than 65 years – so I was completely at home on the slopes. That day, I was racing down an advanced course with two instructors at around 50–60 mph when another skier crashed into me from behind.
“I suffered eight broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding. It was a horrendous accident – but, strangely, it became my silver bullet. Without it, things could have turned out very differently.
“That’s why, when I found out I had lung cancer, I described it as ‘great news’. The doctor was perplexed. No one had ever responded like that before. But I could see the bigger picture. The cancer had been caught early. Without that accident, I might have been sitting there four years later being told it was terminal.
Stronger in. Faster out
“I feel very lucky to have been diagnosed so early – especially because I didn’t have any symptoms. I felt I owed it to myself to make sure I was as fit as possible for my surgery. My consultant made it clear: the fitter I was going in, the better my recovery would be.
“I spent the next six weeks training. I’m fortunate to have a home gym and a large garden, so I worked out five days a week, indoors and out. It wasn’t a huge shift for me – fitness had always been part of my life.
“Before my operation, I felt the fittest I had been in years. I’d even go as far as say, at 65, I felt fitter than I did when I was in my 40s.
“And it paid off. I had surgery on a Friday and was home by Monday. I even overheard a junior doctor asking if I was the same patient they’d operated on just days earlier.
“That’s what being fit can do for you – and it’s the advice I’d give anyone preparing for treatment. Everyone’s situation is different, of course, but anything you can do to improve your fitness beforehand will only help.”
Learning to adapt
“Afterwards, I was determined to get back to training as soon as possible to support my recovery, so I hired a personal trainer. It was during the Covid-19 lockdown, so we trained carefully, following all the guidelines.
“I knew rebuilding my lung capacity would be key, so I asked to be pushed. But recovery was harder than I’d expected, and I’ve had to make adjustments.
“I can’t play tennis like I used to – I simply can’t get across the court as quickly. When I play golf, I now use a buggy instead of walking the course.
“Swimming was another surprise. Once my scars had healed, I was eager to get back in the pool, only to discover I’d lost my buoyancy – I just sank. That was tough to accept. I still go in the water, but now I stay in the shallow end and walk widths instead of swimming lengths.
“I’m also a keen fisherman, but I can no longer row due to reduced lung capacity. I bought an electric boat, only to find the battery too heavy to manage alone – so now I go out with someone else.
Not just a statistic
“Life is different, no question. But you adapt. That’s how I’ve always approached things – focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
“I still lead a full, active life. I’m a non-executive director for 11 companies, I travel, I train, and I spend time in the garden. Most importantly, I’m here for my family – especially my two granddaughters.
“In fact, I’ve even been back skiing with them. Ironically, that’s the one thing I’ve managed to retain my level in – despite it being the very thing that set this whole chain of events in motion.
“No one would ever wish for an accident like mine. But the reality is, without it, I might not be here today.
“So while life has changed, I’m grateful. I’m a survivor – not just another statistic.”