Rugby World Cup hero Ben Cohen, 40, bounced back from brush with death in a tale of resilience against the odds in 2018.
The renowned sportsman found himself blindsided by a trifecta of health woes – a perilous heart condition, septicemia, and glandular fever – leaving him laid low and racing to the emergency room.
“I’ve never flirted with the idea of meeting my maker,” Ben shares candidly. “But when they tell you your weekend plans might have included a date with destiny had you not sought help, you’re reminded of your own mortality.”
The ordeal kicked off in June 2017 with agonizing chest pains, initially suspected to signal a heart attack, propelling Ben to the nearest A&E in Northampton. However, doctors pinpointed pericarditis, a debilitating inflammation enveloping the heart in a protective sac.
As if that weren’t enough, a diagnosis of sepsis, a potentially fatal blood infection threatening multiple organ failure, further compounded Ben’s health crisis. To add insult to injury, medical examinations unearthed glandular fever, the suspected culprit behind the preceding maladies – a condition that would ultimately wield the most profound impact on the rugby star’s life.
“While the pericarditis and sepsis were swiftly addressed with a rigorous course of antibiotics,” Ben recounts, “it was the glandular fever that truly tested my mettle. I’d have welcomed a beating compared to the relentless onslaught of this ailment. It was sheer brutality.”
Glandular fever, an untreatable virus, unleashed a relentless assault on Ben’s vitality, triggering debilitating symptoms like fever and swollen glands, coupled with an insidious fatigue that lingered for months on end.
“I endured two harrowing bouts of it,” Ben reveals. “It faded away after about eight weeks initially, only to resurge with a vengeance in January. It hit me like a freight train.”
The toll was profound, reducing the once indefatigable athlete to a shell of his former self. Simple tasks became monumental challenges, and even mundane activities like applying sunscreen on a family holiday proved Herculean feats.
“It was a battle just to summon the strength to get through the day,” Ben admits. “I went from being a beacon of energy to a mere shadow of myself. It was a grueling ordeal.”
The clouds of despair gradually parted in May, yet Ben acknowledges that his journey to recovery has been a protracted one, with the psychological toll akin to enduring a long-term injury.
“When I was on the field, sidelined by injury, I’d wrestle with frustration, itching to get back in the game,” Ben reflects. “But with glandular fever, there’s no bargaining. You’re stripped of your vitality, left to grapple with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I’m only just beginning to emerge from the shadows.”
What the 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different
Take a look at how some of the key players look now:
Phil Vickery
A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand ‘Raging Bull’, with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.
Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including ‘Celebrity MasterChef’, which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.
Jonny Wilkinson
Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup’s and the Six Nations.
Will Greenwood
Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti’s London office. Greenwood’s family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne’s research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.