Jack McCooke, a 30-year-old from London, discovered he had sustained a broken neck only after returning from a skiing holiday in Val d’Isere, France. McCooke was skiing when he went airborne over a snow lip but initially believed he had only suffered severe whiplash. Despite the fall, he continued to walk and resumed his daily activities.

Two days after the incident, while back at his technology job, McCooke sneezed and subsequently lost consciousness. He was immediately taken to Guy’s and Thomas’ Hospital in South East London, where medical examination revealed a fracture to his C2 vertebra, located just below his skull. Medical staff expressed surprise that he had remained upright and mobile for so long with such an injury.

Following diagnosis, McCooke underwent extensive physiotherapy to recover, but a knee injury five months into his rehabilitation forced him to relearn how to walk. Two years after the accident, he has made significant progress and has recently resumed running. McCooke has registered to take part in the Shoreditch Half Marathon on September 20. He commented on his recovery, noting that while he enjoys running, he must avoid activities involving jolting motions.