Trigger warning: Some may find the footage in this article disturbing.
Excruciating footage has shown the moment Dan Jones snapped both the tendons in his legs causing his kneecaps to ‘shoot up into his thighs’ while competing in a Strongman event.
Jones was competing in a Strongman final in Southport on the 1st of September when he had to carry 80kg for 20 meters to the finish line.
However, what could have been a huge success ended in complete disaster as he ruptured both patellar tendons just meters from the finish line.
Advert
The 29-year-old father had been training to compete in Strongman since the beginning of the year, finishing first place in the First Time category at the Manchester Strongman competition back in July.
In preparation for the event in Southport, Jones was in the gym eight hours a week, eating a 4,500-calorie high-protein and high-carb diet in order to be in the best possible shape.
Following the shocking injury Jones explained it ‘was a freak accident’ and they’re still not certain how it happened.
"After slowing down the video with doctors and surgeons, it looks like my right knee patellar tendon snaps out of nowhere, which causes my leg to fold underneath me,” he said.
"Then my left knee bends underneath me and this tendon snaps on impact with the ground. I felt like I was on fire, my kneecaps were in my quads because my tendons ruptured.
"The weirdest thing I remember is silence. The whole crowd was cheering everyone on and then it went deathly silent and I just lay on the floor," he added.
Jones was immediately rushed to hospital where he received painkillers before undergoing a five-hour op to have his tendons fused back together and remained in the hospital for three weeks to learn how to walk again.
While this may put the average Strongman off ever competing again, Jones hasn't ruled out a return to action.
"The surgeon has said it could be the end of all the Strongman competitions, but it's a case-by-case basis," he explained.
"He said it would be very rare that I'd be able to compete at the level I was again, but we don't know until I start healing.
"My biggest goal is to be a dad and be able to chase my daughter around and play with her. I should be able to go to the gym and do aspects of the Strongman things."
"The only thing that is keeping me going is these little goals,” he added.
Tom Jenkins