Strictly Come Dancing star and former Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite has shared harrowing details of a serious road accident, revealing doctors told him the incident 'could have been fatal'. The 2021 Strictly finalist was hit by a car, leaving him to crawl to the pavement before a passer-by came to his aid.
The 'Shocking and Scary' Moment of Impact
John Whaite described the terrifying event, which occurred recently in Leeds. He recounted being struck with enough force to roll up the bonnet of the vehicle, damaging both it and the windscreen, before being thrown down onto the tarmac. 'I splatted onto the road,' he said, detailing the immediate aftermath of the collision.
In an initial statement on Instagram, the professional baker suggested the driver was 'speeding without looking'. He later amended this, stating, 'I don't know what speed the driver was going. But it was enough to skittle me up onto his windscreen and down onto the floor.' The driver did not remain at the scene.
A Roadside Angel and a Vital Warning
Injured and on the ground, Whaite was helped by a stranger he hailed as an 'angel of a human'. This good Samaritan covered him with his own coat on the roadside and stayed with him until emergency services arrived. Whaite expressed profound gratitude for this act of kindness and for the subsequent care from the NHS and police.
The incident prompted Whaite to issue a stark public safety warning. He urged people to be extremely visible when crossing roads in the dark, specifically advising against wearing black clothing during nighttime.
Why Doctors Believe He Cheated Death
Following medical assessment, Whaite was given a startling prognosis. Medical professionals indicated that the accident had the potential to be lethal. They suggested that his physical stature – describing himself as '16 stone of muscle' – may have been a crucial factor in surviving the impact with less severe injury.
Whaite, who made history on Strictly as part of the show's first male same-sex partnership with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, is now recovering from the ordeal. He used his platform to praise the everyday heroes, saying, 'how lucky we are to have these angel creatures roaming the earth, by our sides.'
