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From 40mph Crash to Hawaii Ironman: A Commando's Triumph
10 Oct
Summary
- Former commando competed in Ironman after surviving severe spinal injury.
- He suffered a burst fracture with a vertebra broken into six pieces.
- Doctors initially feared he might never walk again after the accident.
A former Royal Marine commando, Michael Oakes, 50, has demonstrated incredible resilience by competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. This achievement comes three years after a severe skydive accident in 2023 left him with a catastrophic spinal injury.
Oakes sustained a burst fracture when his parachute malfunctioned, causing him to hit the ground at approximately 40mph. Doctors described his lumbar spine as having "exploded," with one vertebra broken into six pieces, and initially gave him little hope of walking again.
Despite facing a long and arduous recovery, Oakes channeled a "single-minded mental approach" to prepare for the extreme Ironman challenge. The event comprises a demanding 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle, and a full 26.2-mile marathon.
