A former England striker's son has been hailed as a medical miracle after becoming the first person on record to survive a devastating injury.
Tragic car crash
Jack Channon, the son of ex-Three Lions and legendary Southampton forward Mick Channon, was just 15 when he and his father were involved in a horrific car crash.
The accident occurred in 2008 while they were returning from horse sales at Doncaster. Unfortunately, the driver of the car suffered a heart failure and died at the wheel.
Stunning recovery
Both Mick and Jack were asleep in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The accident left them both with serious injuries, but Jack, now 30 and in charge of his dad's West Ilsley yard, made an extraordinary recovery that stunned doctors.
Jack said, "I was pretty banged up, broke ten vertebrae, every single rib bar one, my leg and arm. There's also a little bone at the bottom of your skull which is attached by ligaments. When those ligaments stretch it's what they call whiplash, but I completely snapped them and was the first person on record to ever survive that injury. They still use my x-rays for medical training."
From football to racing
After his brush with death, Jack decided to pursue a career in horse racing, following in his father's footsteps. He admitted that football was not the right path for him, saying, "I thought about football for a little while – then I realised I couldn't kick a ball. It wasn't the route for me."
Despite his injuries, Jack's competitive spirit drew him to racing. Having grown up around horses, he developed a passion for the sport from a young age. He said, "I play all sports but I'm not very good at the rest of them! And I was going up the gallops at four or five years old. I have been besotted with racing for as long as I can remember, and it's been my aim all my life to take over from the boss."
A promising career
Jack's decision to pursue horse racing seems to have paid off. He has already had 30 winners from 210 runs this season, earning over £650,000 in prize money.
His recent success at Glorious Goodwood, where his horse Johan won the Golden Mile and a £77,310 prize, further solidified his reputation as a rising star in the sport.
Caernarfon, a filly in his stable, is also showing great potential, finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas and coming third in the Epsom Oaks by only two lengths.
Overall, Jack's future looks bright, but considering the extent of his injuries, it can be seen as nothing short of a miracle that he is alive and thriving.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/racing-trainer-nicky-henderson-hopes-to-make-a-big-impact-with-new-acquisition/
