Hero Benali defies docs to triumph in challenge

IRONMAN Francis Benali FORMER footbal l e r Francis Benali defied medical advice to finish a fifth ironman triathlon in seven days and raise more than £956,000 for charity.

The Southampton legend, 50, planned to do seven in a week but had to pull out of IronFran for two days for hospital tests.

Family and supporters completed the Friday and Saturday legs.

But on Sunday hundreds of fans turned out in Southampton to support the former full-back when he finished the final leg of the swimming, cycling and running challenge.

At the finish, he said: “I feel absolutely delighted to complete my challenge. The reception has been incredible and it has been an incredible journey.”

Fitness fanatic Benali, who played 311 times for Southampton, is trying to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK.

Jacky, from Hull, East Yorks, added: “She’s just incredible and a real superstar.

“She has a wound from one ear to another but nothing fazes her. She’s awesome. Every time they operate they use the same wound.

“We were worried that she might get selfconscious about the wound when she’s older, so we got zigzag tattoos on our wrists so we have one too.

“She has no fear, but I was terrified having to hand such a precious piece of me over to some strangers to cut her open.

“But they have saved her life – and now she’s unstoppable.”

Evie was diagnosed after medics noticed something was wrong with the shape of her head after she was born. The skull is made up