Former Great British Bake Off champion John Whaite has shared a harrowing account of a near-fatal road accident that left him hospitalised, crediting his physical stature with saving his life.
A Terrifying Night on the Road
The 36-year-old television personality took to Instagram to describe the shocking incident, which occurred on Tuesday night. Whaite recounted the moment he was struck by a car, writing that he "rolled over the bonnet" damaging the vehicle's bodywork and windscreen, before landing on the road.
He managed to crawl to the pavement where, in an act of kindness, a stranger covered him with a coat and stayed with him until an ambulance arrived. Whaite was rushed to hospital for emergency assessment.
"Thank God You're 16 Stone of Muscle"
In an emotional social media post, Whaite relayed the sobering words from his doctors. They told him his 16 stone weight and significant muscle mass were crucial in surviving the impact, stating it "could have been fatal" otherwise.
"I've been scanned and poked and prodded and I'm ok," Whaite assured his followers, adding his characteristic humour with, "Still gay though." He later clarified a point from his initial post, explaining that when he said the driver was "speeding," he meant it "figuratively rather than literally" to convey the sudden and shocking nature of the collision.
A Battle with Body Image and Steroids
The accident comes after Whaite bravely revealed a personal struggle in November. He confessed to a five-year addiction to steroids, which began during lockdown after he looked in the mirror and "hated" what he saw.
He described the devastating side effects, which included shrunken testicles and an irregular sex drive, and stated the addiction had made him suicidal. "I choose life. I choose health. I choose love," he declared, vowing to end his use of the substances.
Away from his TV work, which includes winning Bake Off in 2012 and reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, Whaite has also generated income on the adult subscription platform OnlyFans, having said his conventional television career no longer "set him alight."
