Treble gold for survivor of Highlands horror fall
A woman who collected a Guinness World Record for surviving a 1,300ft horror fall and then battling a brain tumour has fought back – to win three athletic gold medals.
Jannine Church, 57, survived the drop in the Highlands despite breaking her back and suffering brain and head injuries.
Mum-of-two Ms Church finally recovered after a 17-year battle due to an undiagnosed brain tumour the size of an apple.
She said once the tumour was removed it brought her out of a “dream-like” state and felt she was “born again” as she decided to take up running with her dog.
Ms Church , of Nether Poppleton, near York said: “It was like I’d woken up. I can’t describe the feeling – it was just wonderful.”
She found a passion for running which led her to three golds in the women’s 800m, 200m and 100m at the Department of Defence Warrior Games in Chicago, a competition run for veterans from US and UK armed forces.