BBC star and Olympian shares horrifying photo of bloody chest drain after 'lung collapses'

As I sat down to write this story, I couldn't help but think about the thrill of taking a leap of faith, of pushing ourselves to the limit, and of the consequences that can follow. For Chemmy Alcott, a former Olympic skier and BBC presenter, the consequences were a collapsed lung and a chest drain after a botched jump into Lake Annecy in the French Alps.

The 44-year-old, who has been a familiar face on Ski Sunday since 2021, had been on holiday, enjoying the picturesque surroundings and taking a break from her high-octane broadcasting career. It was a chance to unwind, to recharge, and to get her adrenaline fix by jumping off a five-metre platform into the water. But, as she revealed in a harrowing post on Instagram, Chemmy's jump didn't quite go as planned.

Most people, she joked, badly time a front flip off a five-metre platform and get winded. But Chemmy, it seemed, was determined to do things by halves, collapsing a lung, requiring a chest drain, and learning a valuable lesson in rotation in the process. The video of her jump, shared alongside graphic images of her hospital stay, was a stark reminder of the risks we take when we push ourselves to the limit.

Chemmy's Olympic career was marked by her courage, her determination, and her resilience. A four-time Olympian, she competed in all five disciplines, downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined, and was part of the Team GB squad that competed in the Winter Olympics in 2014. But, after breaking her leg three times in four years, doctors advised her to retire, warning her that another fracture could result in her leg being amputated.

It was a difficult decision, but one that paved the way for a new chapter in Chemmy's life, a career as a broadcaster. She joined Ski Sunday as a regular presenter in 2021 and has since covered the Games, including broadcasting and presenting in BBC One's coverage of the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina earlier this year.

Now, as she recovers from her latest ordeal, Chemmy is serving as a reminder of the importance of taking care of ourselves, of listening to our bodies, and of being aware of our limits. It's a lesson that many of us can learn from, and one that Chemmy is eager to share with her followers.

The graphic images of Chemmy's hospital stay, shared on her Instagram account, are a stark reminder of the severity of her injury. A chest drain, inserted into her right side, is a stark reminder of the risks of taking a leap of faith. But, as Chemmy has shown, it's also a reminder of the importance of resilience, of determination, and of learning from our mistakes.

Chemmy's Olympic career was marked by highs and lows, by triumphs and setbacks. But, through it all, she remained focused, determined, and committed to her sport. Her decision to retire was not an easy one, but it was a necessary one, a reminder that, even at the height of our powers, we must be aware of our limits and take care of ourselves.

As Chemmy recovers from her latest ordeal, she is facing a new challenge, one that requires her to be aware of her limits, to take care of herself, and to learn from her mistakes. It's a challenge that many of us can learn from, and one that Chemmy is eager to share with her followers.

The lesson that Chemmy has learned from her latest ordeal is one that we can all learn from, a lesson in rotation, a lesson in taking risks, and a lesson in being aware of our limits. As she said in her Instagram post, "5 metres is quite a long way to discover you've got the rotation wrong." It's a lesson that we can all learn from, and one that Chemmy is eager to share with the world.

As I finish writing this story, I am left with a sense of awe and respect for Chemmy Alcott, a woman who has faced her fears, taken risks, and learned from her mistakes. Her story is a reminder of the importance of taking care of ourselves, of being aware of our limits, and of learning from our mistakes. It's a lesson that we can all learn from, and one that Chemmy is eager to share with the world.

It's clear that Chemmy has a long road to recovery ahead of her, but with her determination, resilience, and sense of humour, I have no doubt that she will emerge stronger and more determined than ever.