BBC presenter suffers ‘collapsed lung’ after jumping into lake

Chemmy Alcott’s Lake Annecy Mishap: From Front Flip to Hospital Bed

Traveloasisspot.com – BBC ski presenter Chemmy Alcott has shared the dramatic moment her family holiday took an unexpected turn when a simple jump into a lake resulted in a collapsed lung. The 44-year-old former Olympic skier was enjoying time with her family in the French Alps when she attempted what she describes as a “badly-timed front flip” from a five-metre platform into Lake Annecy.

The incident, which left the four-time Winter Olympian struggling to breathe, was captured on video and later shared on social media. Alcott, who has hosted BBC One’s Winter Olympics coverage in Milan and Cortina earlier this year, documented the entire experience with characteristic humor despite the pain.

A Jump That Went Wrong

The wince-inducing footage shows Alcott leaping from the platform, but something clearly went awry mid-air. The landing was anything but graceful, and the consequences were immediate. Rather than simply being winded as most people would be after such a jump, Alcott found herself requiring medical attention.

“Most people badly time a front flip off a five metre platform and get winded. I apparently don’t do things by halves, collapsed lung, chest drain and a very expensive lesson in rotation,” she explained in the Instagram clip posted on Thursday.

A collapsed lung, medically known as pneumothorax, occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall. This air pressure can cause the lung to collapse partially or completely. The condition often requires a chest drain—a tube inserted between the ribs—to help re-expand the lung by removing the trapped air.

Returning for a Second Attempt

Perhaps most telling of Alcott’s competitive spirit is her decision to return to the platform immediately after the incident. “Re my reel, I actually went back up straight away in embarrassment and did this just so I wasn’t making a big deal of it,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.

However, the second attempt didn’t resolve the issue. “Then I realised I still couldn’t breathe properly and should probably go get it checked out,” she added. The hospital visit confirmed the worst, and Alcott faced several additional nights in hospital beyond what her holiday itinerary had planned.

“Well… that escalated quickly. Turns out 5 metres is quite a long way to discover you’ve got the rotation wrong. One badly timed front flip. One very hard landing. One collapsed lung. One chest drain. And a few more hospital overnights than were on the holiday itinerary… I absolutely LOVED Annecy… but I’m not entirely sure it loved me back,” she captioned the video.

A Life of Risks and Resilience

The Brighton-born skier has always had a close relationship with danger. Having broken her leg three times in four years, she retired from competitive skiing in 2014 after doctors warned that another fracture could result in amputation. Her resilience has been a defining feature of both her athletic and personal life.

Alcott, who counts Zara and Mike Tindall among her friends, has successfully transitioned into broadcasting. She currently hosts Ski Sunday and has covered major winter sporting events for the BBC. Her experience with fear extends beyond the slopes.

“I have a very healthy relationship with fear. So many times, I’ve stared down a mountain, ready to throw myself down and knowing there’s a chance it could go badly,” she told The Sun in February. “It’s kind of the same with TV. When we’re going live on TV and you hear the countdown, there are butterflies in the tummy. You get those same butterflies in the starting gate, ready to go racing at 80mph with loads of G-force down a mountain. It’s live. Anything can go wrong or you can have the ride of your life.”

Family Time in the French Alps

Lake Annecy, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France, is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and stunning mountain backdrop. It’s a popular destination for both tourists and locals seeking outdoor activities. Alcott was enjoying this picturesque setting with her two sons and husband Dougie Crawford, a fellow former British skier.

The holiday mishap serves as a reminder that even experienced athletes are not immune to accidents. At 44, with a career that has spanned Olympic competition, injury recovery, and television presenting, Alcott continues to embrace life’s challenges with the same determination that brought her success on the slopes.

Her recovery from the collapsed lung and chest drain procedure appears to be progressing well, and she has returned to her presenting duties. The incident has become another chapter in the story of a woman who has consistently shown that setbacks—whether on a mountain or in a lake—are merely opportunities to demonstrate resilience and humor in equal measure.