Gethin Jones has suffered a “serious” accident during his Comic Relief challenge.
The BBC star has been taking on a 24-hour roller-skating challenge for Red Nose Day with Morning Live co-star Helen Skelton. The pair have been raising money for Comic Relief with their “Wheely Big Challenge” – a 24-hour roller-skating disco.
Gethin and Helen managed to finish the challenge at 10am on Friday (March 21) but Gethin was almost forced to drop out after falling on the rink and hurting his back. Things took a terrifying turn when he crashed into the side of the wall and hit the deck.
Morning Live host Sara Cox was concerned as she updated viewers on Gethin’s condition, telling viewers: “Now, this is really horrible. Gethin has just had – this is really serious – a massive fall. Look at this. He’s so stiff anyway and just seized up.”
(Image: BBC)
She added: “Genuinely it was make-or-break whether he could finish the challenge but he’s determined the get to that finish line.”
BBC Breakfast hosts Nina Warhurst and Ben Thompson also caught up with Gethin and Helen during the final hour of the fundraiser. Gethin confessed: “I actually don’t know where to start”, before encouraging Helen to speak by saying: “Go on Hel, you go.”
(Image: BBC)
Helen said: “We’re so tired. He’s literally just stacked it into the side but he didn’t want to miss out on speaking to you guys and the rules are we have to keep skating the whole time.
“It has been more of a challenge than what we were expecting,”, reports Wales Online. Noting Gethin’s fatigue, Nina said: “Gethin, I’ve never seen you like this”, to which he responded: “I’m sorry. My back has been pretty bad.”
(Image: BBC)
He admitted he had “hit a wall” mentally during the gruelling challenge but ended up injuring his back during the fall. Recalling it, he said: “I don’t know how I fell down. I went to get a drink and I kicked the side of the wall and I’ve had hit the wall a few times metaphorically but now I’ve hit it physically.”
Helen revealed the medics advised him to take a break, saying: “The medics actually wanted him to take a moment out. The big cheeses upstairs are saying ‘should he be looking at pulling out.”
Gethin was determined to finish the feat as he said: “We got close there but we just got to finish this challenge.” Helen added: “We’re just really grateful and overwhelmed.
“People have been messaging us all night and thank you so much and we’ve seen where the money goes and it literally changes lives and save lives.”
Gethin and Helen started their Red Nose Day challenge at 10am on Thursday (March 20) and had to stay awake for 24 hours while skating around. A description for the challenge read: “And they’re rolling! At 10am on 20th March, Morning Live presenters Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton kicked (rolled!) off their most retro Red Nose Day challenge yet: a non-stop 24hr throwback roller disco for Comic Relief!
“They’re aiming to stay awake and skate round-the-clock as part of Comic Relief’s biggest, bestest birthday bash the nation has ever known, to help support people who are facing the toughest times of their lives.”
You can donate to Comic Relief here.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
