Strictly Come Dancing finalist John Whaite has revealed he was rushed to hospital after being run over in what he described as a near-fatal accident — a moment that left him shaken, bruised, but incredibly grateful to be alive.
The 36-year-old former Great British Bake Off winner took to Instagram on Tuesday night to share the harrowing experience, recalling how he was struck by a car while crossing the road in the dark.
“Last night I got run over — seriously,” John wrote candidly. “I rolled up the bonnet, smashed the windscreen, then hit the road before crawling to the pavement.”
He described how a stranger rushed to his aid, wrapping him in a coat and staying with him until an ambulance arrived — a gesture John later called “angelic.”
Paramedics took him to hospital, where doctors delivered sobering news: his size and muscle mass may have saved his life.
“The doctors said, ‘Thank God you’re 16 stone of muscle — because this could have been fatal,’” he revealed.
Despite the severity of the incident, John confirmed he escaped without life-threatening injuries after being fully scanned and examined. Injecting his trademark humour into the update, he joked: “I’m okay. Still gay though.”
He later clarified comments about the driver “speeding,” explaining he used the word figuratively rather than literally.
“I don’t know how fast the car was going,” he said. “I just know it was sudden and shocking — enough to send me onto the windscreen and down onto the road.”
The frightening accident comes just months after John bravely opened up about his long-running battle with steroid addiction, which he admitted began during lockdown after struggling with body image issues.
In an emotional confession shared last November, John said the addiction had devastating effects on both his physical and mental health, admitting it had pushed him to some of his darkest moments.
“Steroids made me want to end my life,” he wrote at the time. “That stops today. I choose life. I choose health. I choose love.”
John, who reached the Strictly Come Dancing final in 2021 with professional partner Johannes Radebe, has since spoken openly about reclaiming control of his wellbeing and learning to respect his body again.
Now recovering at home, he has urged others to stay vigilant, adding a stark warning drawn from his own experience: build strength, stay visible, and never underestimate how quickly a normal moment can turn dangerous.
The near-miss has left fans flooded with relief and admiration — not only for his honesty, but for the resilience that continues to define his journey.
