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The Jump: Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle sues makers of Channel 4 show over injuries

33-year-old required surgery on her neck and spinal cord after hitting barrier on landing

Roisin O'Connor

Saturday 26 January 2019 11:50 GMT

Beth Tweddle suffered serious injuries during her time on controversial series The Jump (PA)

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle is taking legal action against the makers of Channel 4's The Jump after suffering a spinal injury on the reality show in 2016.

The 33-year-old bronze medal-winner, who retired in 2013 and starred in ITV’s Dancing on Ice before taking part in The Jump, required surgery on her neck and spinal cord after hitting a barrier on a landing.

Tweddle, who is pregnant with her first child, said she was taking legal action to ensure “full accountability for people involved in creating shows like this” and to prevent other people suffering the same fate.

“It's been a long journey and my recovery is still ongoing. I'm not sure I'll ever be 100% again,” she said in a statement.

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“The effects of my accident still interrupt my daily life and, aside from the severe physical injuries at the start, the hardest part of the recovery process has been the psychological element - dealing with and processing the whole accident and the aftermath of what happened.

“It's disappointing that we have had to seek court proceedings as we had hoped the makers of the programme might be willing to work with us to settle the case.

“I just want to make sure that there is full accountability for people involved in creating shows like this and to help prevent others having to go through what I have for the past three years.”

Tweddle's lawyer, Demetrius Danas, said: “She has had to put many parts of her life and career on hold and, while Beth is making a good recovery, she still cannot do many of the things she previously could as an elite athlete and may never fully recover.

“Despite attempts to settle the legal case amicably, the defendants involved in making The Jump have so far denied any liability for her injuries and we have been left with no choice but to issue court proceedings as we seek to resolve the case.”

In a statement given to BBC Sport, production company TwoFour, who make The Jump, said: “This matter is being dealt with by our insurers and we are unable to comment as the claim is ongoing.”

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