Injured US crossing runner completes John o’Groats to Land’s End challenge
Nick Ashill, a 62-year-old charity runner, has completed a run from John o’Groats to Land’s End, years after a pick-up truck hit him during an attempt to cross the United States. The 2017 crash left him unconscious with severe injuries; his ex-wife, who was on a Skype call with him, alerted emergency services and helped save his life.
Ashill, who grew up in Pontypool and lives in New Zealand, spent weeks in hospital and underwent more than a dozen operations. Despite doctors warning he might need a wheelchair or walking stick, he later completed runs across the US and Australia, and is described as the second person to run across all three countries. His latest challenge began on 5 September and took about a month, though leg pain and swelling forced him to cycle part of the way; he was raising money for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust in memory of his mother.
- Nick Ashill has run the length of Britain.
- A call with his ex-wife helped summon rescuers after his 2017 crash.
- He has now completed runs across the US, Australia and Britain.
New here? Start with this
Nick Ashill is a 62-year-old runner originally from Pontypool who now lives in New Zealand. In 2017, whilst attempting to run across the United States, he was struck by a pick-up truck and suffered severe injuries that left him unconscious. His ex-wife, who was on a Skype call with him, alerted emergency services, and he was taken to hospital.
The injuries were extensive, with doctors performing more than a dozen operations. Medical professionals initially suggested that Ashill might need a wheelchair or walking stick for the rest of his life. However, he recovered sufficiently to return to running.
Since then, Ashill has completed long-distance running challenges across multiple continents, including the United States and Australia. He is the second person known to have run across all three countries. His running challenges also raise money for charitable causes, including the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust in memory of his mother.
Business Geopolitics Markets Politics UK World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “British charity runner left for dead when pick-up truck hit him as he crossed the USA survived because he was on phone to his ex-wife at the time – now he’s run the length of Britain”.