Chemmy Alcott, a presenter on the BBC’s Ski Sunday program, experienced a collapsed lung following an accident while on holiday in France. The incident occurred when the 44-year-old jumped from a five-meter platform into Lake Annecy in the French Alps. She executed a front flip during the jump but mistimed the rotation, resulting in a hard landing that caused the injury.
In social media posts documenting the incident, Alcott described initially attempting to jump again after the difficult landing due to embarrassment and a desire to downplay the situation. However, she soon realized she was experiencing breathing difficulties and sought medical attention. She subsequently spent multiple nights hospitalized, where she received treatment including a chest drain to address the collapsed lung, medically known as pneumotharax.
Alcott’s injury represents blunt trauma damage rather than a typical water-related hazard. When falling from a five-meter height, individuals typically reach speeds around 20 miles per hour upon impact. The force of her chest striking the water caused internal damage to the lung despite the skin remaining intact. Lake Annecy maintains summer temperatures between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius, which mitigates concerns about cold water shock that pose risks in colder bodies of water.
Alcott has maintained a prominent presence in British skiing following her competitive career. She won seven British championships across five skiing disciplines and became the first and only British female skier to secure a World Cup race victory. She competed in four Winter Olympics, with her final appearance in 2014 at Sochi. Since transitioning from competitive skiing, she has served as a contributor and co-presenter for Ski Sunday alongside Ed Leigh since 2021, and recently covered the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina for BBC One.
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