During a Strongman competition in Southport, U.K., Dan Jones from Weaverham in Northwich, Cheshire, experienced a devastating injury. The senior IT analyst had advanced to the final round, which required competitors to carry an 80kg weight over a 20-metre distance.
Just moments away from crossing the finish line, Jones suddenly collapsed. He had ruptured both patellar tendons—the crucial ligaments connecting the thigh muscles to the shinbones—causing his kneecaps to be violently pulled up into his thighs. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
After arriving at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Cheshire, the father-of-one was given painkillers before undergoing a five-hour surgery to repair both tendons. He remained in the hospital for recovery and had to relearn how to walk.
Jones explained:
“The guy I was racing against was in first place, so I was pushing myself as hard as I could to beat him. That’s why I was going full speed.
“It was a freak accident—we still don’t fully understand how it happened.
“After reviewing the footage in slow motion with the doctors and surgeons, it looks like my right patellar tendon suddenly snapped, causing my leg to collapse underneath me. Then, as I hit the ground, my left knee bent and that tendon snapped on impact.”
He went on to explain: “During surgery, the doctors had to reattach my tendons and ensure the ligaments beneath my knee were properly aligned.
“They also inserted two sutures into my shin and constructed an internal brace to support the tendon as it heals.
“I was confined to bed and unable to move my legs. I couldn’t stop worrying—wondering if I’d be able to walk again, and how long recovery might take.
“The doctors believe the injury may have been triggered by the stress of the day, as there was no clear warning or cause—just a freak accident.
“One of them told me it’s extremely rare to see both patellar tendons rupture at the same time.”
Jones vividly recalled the eerie silence that followed the moment he was injured.
“The strangest thing was the silence,” he said. “The crowd had been cheering, then suddenly everything just stopped. It went deathly quiet as I lay there on the ground.”
He added, “I was devastated—I had a real shot at winning. We were so close to the finish, just 10 metres away. I only needed three more seconds of running to complete the event.”
During surgery, doctors fitted internal braces in both of his legs to support tendon recovery. He has also been undergoing daily physiotherapy sessions.
Jones has been sharing his recovery journey on TikTok, regularly posting updates on his progress.
