Yahoo News Greg Rutherford shares health update after serious Dancing on Ice injury
The athlete said he is doing 'a lot better' now
What did you miss?
Greg Rutherford has revealed he “couldn’t move” and had to have gas and air as he lay on the ice after he “effectively gave (himself) a C-section” in a Dancing On Ice accident.
The former track and field athlete was a contestant on the last series of the ITV ice-skating competition but missed the final after suffering a serious stomach injury during a rehearsal. He previously told fans on Instagram that he had been leaping through the legs of two pro skaters and “managed to tear all of my abs as well as herniate” and that it was like he'd undergone a caesarean.
Olympian Rutherford has since had surgery and shared a health update as he appeared on ITV’s Lorraine.
What, how and why?
Talking about the accident, he said: “I couldn't move, I couldn’t do anything and I laid on the ice for 10 minutes with gas and air before they had to get me off."
Rutherford explained: "As I dived through, that’s where my lower left ab detached and then the herniation above my belly button… I had this absolute panicked look and the two pros that were on the ice who were incredible, they straightaway shouted for people to come and I couldn’t move.
"It was one of the most bizarre things because it was all in the stomach and you then realise how much you use your stomach when it’s damaged.”
Rutherford told host Lorraine Kelly he’d since had an operation. “I am a lot better thank you,” he said. “I had to have surgery to repair the injuries, so I had some pretty nasty hernias and I also detached my lower left ab which was less than ideal.
“It’s a tough thing as well because mentally you have to get your head around it again as you’ve gone from doing this incredible show and you're in the limelight doing these incredible skates and all of a sudden you can’t particularly move.”
Would Greg Rutherford return to Dancing On Ice?
Rutherford, who was paired with skater Vanessa James on the programme, admitted that reflecting on the show brought back “mixed memories”, as he had been having “so much fun” before it all went “horribly wrong”.
But he also revealed he wouldn’t rule out another twirl around the ice in the future. “It’s been early stage discussed whether or not I come back and do one skate maybe,” he said. “I’d love to give it another go.”
He added: “It was something I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did and that was the interesting thing for me.”
