OLYMPIC hero Linford Christie has become the fifth person to leave THE JUMP
– as axed James Argent returns.
The sprinter was forced to quit the Channel 4 show because he failed to
recover from a hamstring injury in time to train for Sunday’s slalom race.
But show bosses could face another blow as Towie star Arg and Joe
Swash — a last-minute replacement for injured Mark-Francis Vandelli — limped
off the slopes yesterday following a series of tumbles.
Joe somersaulted forward as he took off on the airjump, crashed into an airbag
and skidded on to hard-packed snow.
He clutched his shoulder in agony as spectators rushed to his aid.
Joe was still being assessed yesterday to see if he had reached a suitable
standard to take part in Sunday’s show.
Arg,
who was eliminated last week, was seen chatting to medics and limping after
soaring over the jump spread-eagled. After coming back as Linford’s
replacement he said: “Now I have a second chance I want to show what I can
really do.
“It is an honour to be passed the baton by Linford Christie and I’ll hopefully
make him proud — and have fun along the way”.
Doctors were last night spotted deep in conversation with crew while an
ambulance was parked up at the set in Kuhtai, Austria.
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City actress Tina Hobley left the show after she injured her elbow.
The casualties continued with Olympic
swimmer Rebecca Adlington quitting after a shoulder injury.
Gymnast Beth Tweddle crashed on the slopes and needed
surgery to fuse together two fractured vertebrae in her neck.
And Mark-Francis
was forced off the show after he fractured his ankle in the snow cross.
— MELINDA MESSENGER has defended The Jump, saying the potential for serious
injury is “the risk each individual takes”.
The show is facing criticism after five stars were badly injured while taking
part.
Melinda was a contestant in the first series of the Channel 4 show in 2014 but
was forced to pull out after suffering concussion in a bobsleigh accident.
She is now in a relationship with the show’s skiing coach Warren Smith.
Melinda said: “He really feels for anybody that’s had an injury, and that’s
awful. But he knows – and I know through him and through being there and
directly experiencing it – just how much effort, time, concern and worry
goes into the care and safety of all the contestants.
“That’s his primary focus – is somebody fit enough and able enough to do this?
“After that, it’s their choice.”